The Defining Moment When Matthew Tkachuk Distinguished Himself from Auston Matthews

As Tkachuk steers his Panthers towards a Stanley Cup Finals spot, while Matthews' Leafs face yet another elimination, this discussion proves timely and relevant.

In retrospect, the 2016 draft should have signaled the forthcoming influence of Matthew Tkachuk. Known for his aggressive, and confrontational style of play, he has a knack for agitating rival teams. Early indications hinted at his future reputation as a nuisance on the ice.

Top prospects from the 2016 NHL draft, in an interview, unveiled Tkachuk's admiration for Corey Perry, a player known for the same irritating style. The correlation isn't surprising considering they're similar gameplay style - aggressive yet adept, making them less and less liked amongst opposing teams.

Perhaps the most amusing portion of the video clip is the astonished reactions from Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine when Tkachuk references Perry. Their expressions, as they suppress their laughter, strikingly illustrates the stark contrast in their respective gameplay styles when compared with Tkachuk's.

While Tkachuk's style of play is unpopular due to its nature, you can't deny that it's effective, Laine and Matthew may laugh, but the fact of the matter is that Tkachuk has found more success so far than either of them.

As Read on HouseofHockey - Video Surfaces of the Moment Matthew Tkachuk Separated Himself From Auston Matthews