Matthew Tkachuk Jokes He Did Homework for 1st Time Since 9th Grade to Prep for GameDay

Florida Panthers superstar winger Matthew Tkachuk had a funny response Saturday when asked how he prepared to be the guest picker on ESPN College GameDay.

During an interview before making his picks, Tkachuk said, "I did do homework for the first time since I think ninth grade, so I'm ready to go."

ESPN College GameDay was on location in Miami Gardens, Florida, ahead of Saturday's game between the No. 4 Miami Hurricanes and the unranked Florida Gators, and Tkachuk was decked out in Canes gear.

Tkachuk, 27, has led the Panthers to back-to-back Stanley Cup wins, and he has been among the top forwards in the NHL since early in his career with the Calgary Flames.

Originally selected by Calgary with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2016 NHL draft, Tkachuk instantly made the move to the NHL from the Ontario Hockey League, skipping college and the minor leagues completely.

The two-time NHL All-Star set a then-career high with 104 points during his final season with the Flames in 2021-22, but when the two sides were unable to reach an agreement on a new contract, he was traded to Florida.

That turned out to be a franchise-changing move to the Panthers, as they have reached three straight Stanley Cup Finals since acquiring Tkachuk.

Before Tkachuk's arrival, the Panthers had reached the Stanley Cup Final only once in their history, and they had never won a championship.

The gritty and talented power forward set a new career high in 2022-23 with 109 points, and he has recorded 22 or more points in each of the Panthers' past three postseasons.

Injuries limited Tkachuk to 52 regular-season games in 2024-25, but he battled through them to appear in 23 playoff contests en route to the Panthers' second straight Cup.

The injuries have finally caught up to Tkachuk, though, as Panthers general manager Bill Zito told the Associated Press (h/t ESPN) that offseason surgery to repair a sports hernia and torn adductor muscle is expected to keep him out until December.

Even so, the stacked Panthers are still expected to be among the best teams in the NHL this coming season, and they stand to receive a massive boost when Tkachuk does return.

The Panthers have carried South Florida in recent years when it comes to the success of the area's professional sports teams, as the Miami Dolphins and Miami Marlins are struggling, while the usually competitive Miami Heat had a losing record last season.

Another sports power may be emerging in South Florida, though, as the Hurricanes look like a legitimate national title contender this season with transfer quarterback Carson Beck leading the way.