The 2026 Winter Olympics already have enough drama on the ice, and now, Team USA’s Matthew Tkachuk is making headlines for sparking yet another controversy after taking a savage jab at German rival Leon Draisaitl.
During a preliminary matchup between Team USA and Germany on Sunday, February 15, the American forward was caught on a “hot mic” delivering a biting chirp to the German captain.
Highlights
- Matthew Tkachuk reignited his years-long rivalry with Leon Draisaitl during Team USA’s Olympics matchup against Germany, and it instantly went viral.
- The moment sparked major backlash online, with critics accusing Tkachuk of “poor sportsmanship” and claiming Team Canada would “humble” him.
- Fans unexpectedly turned the drama into a fandom moment, comparing the Olympics rivalry to the popular hockey romance series ‘Heated Rivalry.’
Given the duo’s years-long, well-documented rivalry, the moment quickly ignited a flood of wild reactions online, with many viewers even drawing comparisons to the popular hockey romance series, Heated Rivalry.
“Is he seriously trying to bring heated rivalry to the Panthers dressing room?” one user reacted.
Team USA’s Matthew Tkachuk made a biting remark, poking fun at German captain Leon Draisaitl’s recent history of championship near-misses
Image credits: RvS.Media/Monika Majer/Getty Images
The friction between Matthew Tkachuk and Leon Draisaitl reportedly dates back to their Battle of Alberta era, which began in 2016 and lasted for six seasons, until 2022.
In 2020, Draisaitl famously voiced his dislike for his American rival in an interview, telling a reporter that if he had to play 3-on-3 with Tkachuk at the All-Star Game, he would “probably get off the ice.”
After that, Tkachuk’s Florida Panthers defeated Draisaitl’s Edmonton Oilers in back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals, first in 2024, and then again in 2025.
Image credits: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
Image credits: Rhys604
Given that Draisaitl lost both Stanley Cup runs, Tkachuk has often leaned into it, reminding Leon time and time again on the ice that while he has individual trophies like the Hart and Art Ross, he still lacks a major team title.
During their preliminary Olympic matchup yesterday, Team USA held a commanding lead and ultimately defeated Team Germany 5-1.
And Matthew, without missing a beat, took a controversial jab at Leon during the game.
Image credits: PelleEklund
Image credits: BrockWHarrison
In multiple viral videos circulating online, as the two players headed toward their respective benches during the second period, Matthew was clearly heard shouting, “Always the bridesmaid, eh Leon? Always the bridesmaid, never the bride.”
The phrase is a common idiom used to describe someone who consistently comes close to major success but always ends up in a runner-up position.
While Leon brushed off the harsh jab, netizens were far less forgiving, claiming Matthew would be “easily humbled" by Team Canada
Image credits: EyesWideOpen/Getty Images
Tkachuk appeared to be poking fun not only at Leon’s team losing the Stanley Cup Finals twice, but also at his standing within his own team.
While Draisaitl is an elite NHL athlete, he is often viewed as a supporting star to Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid, who is widely considered the face of the NHL and is frequently ranked as the best player in the league.
Although Leon did not respond to the remark, the internet quickly slammed Tkachuk for his behavior.
Image credits: NHL
Image credits: PatricePusey
One critic wrote, “He must have studied that line all night. No way he came up with, or remembered that all on his own.”
A second commented, “Olympics promote sportsmanship. [Matthew] apparently don't know the meaning of this 'big' word... too long for them lol.”
“Oh please, Tkachuk is such a mouthpiece. It’s honestly embarrassing,” wrote one disappointed netizen, while another added, “Matthew Tkachuk displaying that famous American humility. Keep chirping bud. Keep chirping.”
Image credits: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
Some even mocked the American NHL star’s jab, especially since Canada is currently the top seed at the ongoing Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
One user quipped, “He'll be the bridesmaid this time after Canada whoops their a** again.”
Another chimed in, “Tkachuk shouldn't be talking he will be yet again a bridesmaid to Canada… when Canada scoops the Gold!”
Tkachuk and Draisaitl’s latest Olympics jab sparked wild comparisons to the fictional hockey romance series Heated Rivalry
Image credits: HBO Max
A third joked, “He does know America has way more silvers than gold?.... Right?”
“It was leon vs usa. Imagine if Leon was on team canada tkachuks wouldnt talk sh*t.”
Image credits: usahockey
The scathing remark also unexpectedly sparked intense fan comparisons to Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid, a popular hockey romance novel that has since been adapted into a live-action series, largely due to the narrative parallels.
Image credits: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Image credits: JoeMama1567546
The story follows two elite players from rival teams who publicly despise each other, but secretly share a complicated relationship.
One fan of the series reacted to the latest Matthew-Leon controversy on the hockey subreddit r/hockey, writing, “That is going to be the title of a fic on ao3 by the end of the day. And as of 7:43 pm PST the fic is now indeed published.”
With the German captain and the American forward’s rivalry going back nearly a decade, Leon has already lost two Stanley Cup Finals to Matthew
A second user added, “Oh no if heated rivalry was real they would be the guys lmao like their ship is more popular.”
Reportedly, the “MattDrai” pairing is extremely popular in the hockey fanfiction community and is often cited as the sport’s most popular “rivals” ship.
As of February 2026, there are over 1,150 works dedicated to the pairing on AO3 (Archive of Our Own).
Moreover, it consistently ranks within the top 10 most popular ships in the Hockey Real Person Fiction (RPF) fandom.
As for the Olympics, following Team USA’s win, the United States earned the No. 2 overall seed and a direct bye to the quarterfinals.
They will play their next game on Wednesday, February 18, against the winner of the Sweden vs. Latvia qualifying match.
“I'd take Draisaitl over Tkachuk on my team any day of the week… If Leon's a bridesmaid then Matt's a runaway bride,” mocked one netizen
