"God you’re a loser" "Sounds like a skill issue": NHL community reacts to Matthew Tkachuk's dig at fan's hypothetical question about Oilers matchup

Matthew Tkachuk and the Florida Panthers won their first Stanley Cup by defeating the Edmonton Oilers in the Final. Reportedly, a few Oilers players were suffering from injuries. Evander Kane was sidelined due to a sports hernia, while Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl played through their injuries.

A humorous interaction took place when a hockey referee, who is also an avid Oilers fan, met Tkachuk in Calgary, who was there to visit the Calgary Stampede. The fan tweeted about a conversation he had with the athlete:

"I told Matthew Tkachuk tonight that a healthy Oilers team would have beat them and he said we will never know and that’s not the way it ended. He’s a true fu**er to be sure."

This humorous exchange posted with a blunt tone has since gone viral, prompting a flurry of responses from NHL fans.

"Sounds like a skill issue," One fan said.

"God you’re a loser," another fan said.

"Oilers lost - but hopefully believing this makes you feel better. McDavid who was supposedly so injured was wake boarding with an abdominal tear. Cry me a river." One fan said.

Some fans mentioned that both teams were without their full lineups.

"Both teams weren’t completely healthy. The playoffs are all about playing through injuries but whatever it takes to cope. Cats in 7." A fan said.

"healthy oilers team? canucks didn’t have boeser or demko and yall won by 1 goal 🤣. oilers had all their players for the finals," one fan opined.

"Whatever you need to say and do to get closure I say do it. Hockey players love to talk hockey, hope you were at least respectful. Panthers were banged up when they played Vegas in the finals then they came back better to win the Cup. Give the Panthers credit," a fan explained.

Matthew Tkachuk spotted enjoying the Calgary Stampede

Matthew Tkachuk left the Calgary Flames in the summer of 2022, and in his second season with the Panthers, he won his first Stanley Cup, achieving something his father, Keith, never did in his 18-season NHL career.

Despite forcing a trade from Calgary, Tkachuk was warmly received when he returned to the city, where he was spotted at the Calgary Stampede enjoying a Tate McRae concert.

A video shared on X shows Calgary fans cheering him, perhaps because he played a role in denying the Flames' rival, the Edmonton Oilers, the Stanley Cup in the final.