And who could blame them? After all, the Cats were coming off of winning back-to-back Stanley Cups just 12 months earlier, and the only reason they missed the playoffs in 2026 was due in large part to a historic rash of injuries to some of their biggest stars.Adding Tkachuk seemed like a case of the rich getting richer, as Florida recovered to full strength while adding one of the best young players in the game to their roster.Matthew Tkachuk and Brady Tkachuk of the Florida Panthers skate during the third period against the Carolina Hurricanes at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C., on Sept.29, 2026.
(Jared C.Tilton/Getty Images)For the first couple weeks of the season, it looked like the addition of Matthew's younger brother was all smoke and mirrors, with Brady being held to zero points through the first five games of the year.Rival fans were quick to jump all over this fact, given that both the Panthers and the Tkachuk brothers were seen as polarizing villains throughout the NHL.The internet had a field day, but just as the fans started to take their victory laps, Brady got hot.Then he became nuclear.CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGEAfter breaking the points seal three games prior with an assist in a 5-3 loss in Buffalo, the younger Tkachuk brother notched back-to-back hat tricks in wins over Columbus on Tuesday and Vancouver on Thursday, becoming the first to do so since fellow American Auston Matthews in 2024.His three goals against the Canucks proved to be the difference, too, as the Cats needed every bit of Brady's offensive prowess to squeak out a 3-2 victory in overtime.THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE.
DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!Brady Tkachuk is congratulated by his brother Matthew Tkachuk after scoring a goal during the second period against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, on Oct.13, 2026.
(NHLI via Getty Images)Not bad, eh? But it gets even better.Matthew became the first player...