NHL Playoff Tensions Ignite as Brady Tkachuk Mocks Auston Matthews’ Win – Matthews Fires Back with Hilarious Three-Word Retort

Toronto, ON – The Stanley Cup Playoffs haven’t even officially begun, but the battle lines are already being drawn-this time off the ice. Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk has thrown the first punch in the war of words, delivering a sharp and unexpected jab at Toronto Maple Leafs superstar Auston Matthews following his recent winning performance. In a move that stunned reporters and fans alike, Tkachuk openly mocked Matthews and declared that he plans to open the playoffs by crushing Toronto and putting an end to their winning streak.

The bold statement came during a pre-playoff media session in Ottawa on Thursday morning. When asked about facing Matthews and the Maple Leafs, Tkachuk didn’t hold back.
“Everyone’s hyped about Auston’s recent win like it’s something historic,” he said with a smirk. “Let’s be honest-when it’s playoff time, it’s different. I’m kicking things off with a dominant win over Toronto. Their little streak ends with us.”
Reporters were caught off guard by the aggressiveness of the comment, given that Matthews and Tkachuk have never had a particularly public rivalry-until now. But before anyone could process the implications, Matthews fired back with a perfectly timed and unexpectedly funny response.
When told of Tkachuk’s comments during a team practice in Toronto, Matthews laughed, took a breath, and simply said three words that had the entire locker room erupting in laughter:
“Who even asked?”

The subtle sarcasm and perfectly timed delivery of the phrase instantly went viral. Within minutes, fans on social media turned the phrase into a trending hashtag: #WhoEvenAsked. Memes flooded the internet, with photos of Tkachuk edited into kindergarten classrooms, sarcastic reaction gifs captioned with the quote, and Maple Leafs fans claiming it as their new playoff slogan.

Translation Sparks Even More Buzz

What made the exchange even more entertaining was when fans on Vietnamese NHL forums translated what Matthews allegedly meant behind the joke. The Vietnamese phrase “Auston Matthews mày không đủ trình độ để thi đấu đánh bại tôi nhé Brady Tkachuk” loosely translates to “Auston Matthews, you don’t have what it takes to beat me, Brady Tkachuk.”
The mock-translation became a meme of its own, with fans humorously assigning over-the-top meanings to Matthews’ short clapback. While Matthews himself has not commented further, insiders say he was amused by how the internet ran with it.

A Brewing Rivalry

Though Ottawa and Toronto haven’t historically been fierce playoff rivals, the bad blood might be reaching a boiling point. With the Senators clawing for a deep playoff run and the Maple Leafs riding a wave of recent momentum, the potential for a first-round face-off is very real-and tensions are clearly rising.

Former players weighed in on the verbal exchange. Hall of Famer Paul Bissonnette said during his podcast, Spittin’ Chiclets,
“This is the stuff you live for. Brady’s got that Tkachuk fire, and Matthews? Man, he clapped back like a sniper. This is going to be one hell of a series if they meet.”

Leafs Stay Focused

Despite the viral nature of the exchange, Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe made it clear that his team isn’t letting the trash talk distract them.
“We respect every opponent. But we also don’t engage in sideshows. Auston gave a little chuckle and now we’re back to work. That’s our focus,” Keefe told reporters Friday.
Still, players around the league took notice. Several, including Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon, liked or commented on Matthews’ three-word jab on Instagram. The league, intentionally or not, now has one of its best subplots heading into the postseason.

What’s at Stake

For Brady Tkachuk, this may be a defining moment-not just to prove that he can talk the talk, but that he can back it up. For Matthews, it’s a chance to show he’s not just a regular-season sniper, but a postseason closer.
No matter which way the puck drops, one thing’s for sure: hockey fans are going to be watching this storyline unfold with popcorn in hand.
And as the Stanley Cup Playoffs begin, one phrase will echo in the minds of fans from Ottawa to Toronto:
“Who even asked?”