Tkachuk Brothers Share the NHL Players They are Scared to Play Against

The NHL: Skill Meets Grit

In the modern NHL, skill is a dominant factor, but the tenacious grit of players remains essential. The most formidable players exhibit a combination of both attributes.

Brady and Matthew Tkachuk are known for their abrasive playing style, which often irks their opponents. Their combination of skill, physicality, and craftiness make them formidable adversaries.

In a poll asking NHL players who they dread playing against the most, it's almost certain that one of the Tkachuk brothers would be mentioned. However, when The Bleacher Report posed the same question to the Tkachuks themselves, their answers were rather surprising.

Matthew Tkachuk's Scariest Opponents

Spending the first five years of his career in Calgary, Matthew Tkachuk experienced plenty of Western Conference competition. He asserts that Dustin Byfuglien was the most intimidating player he ever faced. Byfuglien, one of the last physical powerhouses of his generation, enthralled fans with his skills both as a forward and a defenseman.

With Byfuglien now retired, Tkachuk names Cale Makar, Miro Heiskanen, and Rasmus Dahlin as players he'd rather not go up against.

Brady Tkachuk's Toughest Matchups

Brady, on the other hand, identified Shea Weber as the player he feared most. Weber, a massive, hard-hitting, and smooth-skating future hall-of-famer, was a daunting opponent for a 19-year-old Tkachuk during rivalry games between the Canadiens and the Senators.

Following Weber's retirement, Brady agrees with his brother that the new generation of fast, intelligent defensemen are incredibly challenging to face.

Despite their ability to take on the league's strongest competition, even the Tkachuk brothers have a few players that truly unsettle them.

@br_openice The Tkachuk brothers name-dropped some of the hardest players to play against 👀💪 #hockey #hockeytiktoks #nhl #fyp ♬ original sound - BR_OpenIce

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