SUNRISE, Fla. -- Matthew Tkachuk is ready to play host.
Selected to compete at the NHL All-Star Game on Feb. 3 and 4 in South Florida, the Florida Panthers superstar winger said he's looking forward to showing off his new home.
"Being able to show off South Florida to players throughout the league is probably going to be my favorite part," said Tkachuk, now a two-time NHL All-Star. "For the other players to see where I live and play, it's going to be awesome sharing it with so many incredible players. I'm the hometown guy. I feel very, very lucky to be able to represent my team and my city."
Tkachuk excited to be the 'hometown guy' during NHL All-Star Weekend
Acquired from the Calgary Flames in a blockbuster trade back in July, Tkachuk has flourished during the first half of his first season with the Panthers. Earning multiple points in 16 of the 36 games he's played in, the 25-year-old leads the team in goals (20), assists (27) and points (47).
Just few days before selected as an NHL All-Star, Tkachuk recorded a hat trick to lead the Panthers to a 5-3 win over the Arizona Coyotes on Jan. 3. In that same game, he also came to the aid of captain Aleksander Barkov after he was the victim of a big check along the boards.
Needless to say, Tkachuk's been a hit with both fans and his teammates.
"I'm just happy to have a guy like that on our team," said Panthers defenseman Radko Gudas, a big smile peeking through his beard. "Whether he's stepping up to defend his teammates or scoring big goals and making great plays, it seems like he's there every time we need something to get done."
With the fan vote running from now until Jan. 17 at
NHL.com/Vote
, fans can cast their ballots to send one of Tkachuk's teammates to join him at the NHL All-Star Game. But regardless if he gets any local reinforecements, he's guaranteed to have at least one familiar face next to him on the bench as his brother, Brady, will represent the Ottawa Senators.
Hoping to lead the Atlantic Division to victory in the 3-on-3 tournament, Tkachuk said that being able to finally join forces with his brother will just make the weekend that much more special.
"As you go on in your career, you dream of playing in the NHL, and then you dream of playing together," Tkachuk said. "We always thought it was going to be maybe for Team USA or something like that, but now it comes during one of the biggest weekends in our sport.
"It's crazy how it happened. I was playing in a different conference last year, and a couple years ago we played against each other in the All-Star Game. Now we're playing together. It's just crazy how it's all happened like this. [My family] is very, very, very excited."
Prior to the NHL All-Star Game on Saturday, Feb. 4 at FLA Live Arena, the NHL will hold the NHL All-Star Skills Competition on Friday, Feb. 3. While the events for the Skills Competition have yet to be announced, Tkachuk is confident there's one that he likely won't participate in.
"I'll do whatever, but I know I won't be doing the fastest skater," Tkachuk laughed when asked about the events he'd like to be considered for. "That's probably the worst one to do because guys have to stretch before. That's not in my skillset at all, so I know that'll be a no for me."
When he's not at the rink or participating in the various other events that occur during NHL All-Star Weekend, Tkachuk plans to spend most of his time cruising around Fort Lauderdale and taking his roughly 20 friends and family to a couple of his "favorite spots" in South Florida.
For his visiting opponents?
"I'll show them my second-favorite spots," Tkachuk grinned.
While there's likely still many more NHL All-Star Games in his future, Tkachuk said he plans to soak in every second of the event. Never taking the honor for granted, he still remembers how it felt to attend the 2009 NHL All-Star Game in Montreal with his father, Keith.
"I'm old enough to remember it, and that was one of the highlights of my life," said Tkachuk, who was 12 at the time. "Just being around the players and taking pictures with them. Now, I'm kind of in that position for all of the other guys. It comes full circle."
Ready to make some more memories, Tkachuk is eager to show off both on and off the ice.
"It's about the whole week," Tkachuk said of his expectations for NHL All-Star Weekend. "It's having tons of family in town and everybody here supporting. It's just super exciting for me to show off my new home and try to make everybody around the league jealous of where I live."
