When life gives you long-term injuries, you start a podcast.
Matthew and Brady Tkachuk are turning their rehab time into content gold with the launch of "Wingmen," a weekly podcast promising "two brothers, one mic, absolutely no filter." New episodes drop every Wednesday during the NHL season, produced by Wave Sports + Entertainment, the same company behind the Kelce brothers' mega-hit "New Heights."
The comparison is intentional. The Tkachuk brothers are clearly gunning for hockey's version of what Travis and Jason Kelce built in football, though they're doing it without the Taylor Swift bump.
In a preview clip that debuted on ESPN's Pat McAfee Show Wednesday, the brothers dive into everything from opposite-hand butt wiping to goalie fights. It's exactly the kind of unfiltered chaos you'd expect from two of the game's biggest agitators.
"I would say it was right before playoffs when we were offered kinda something along the lines of a podcast," Matthew told McAfee. "And both of us are in playoffs. 'We'll talk to you down the road and we'll figure it out.' It started to slowly pick up a little bit of steam in the summer after winning. I don't know, it kinda happened really quickly, and finally it's actually happening."
NHL fans, your new favorite podcast is here 🚨
— Wingmen with Matthew and Brady Tkachuk (@Wingmenpod) November 12, 2025
Wingmen with Matthew & Brady Tkachuk drops TOMORROW 🏒 pic.twitter.com/EgRVdrqdB7
The timing works. Matthew hasn't played a game this season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn adductor muscle and sports hernia injury but expects to return sometime in December. Brady has suited up for just three games after tearing his right thumb ligament absorbing a Roman Josi cross-check on October 13. He had surgery three days later and remains sidelined.
"We FaceTime pretty much daily, weekly. Now we're getting paid to do it once a week. Are you kidding me?" Matthew said. "Our dad always said, 'You better leave the game in a better place than when you got here.' I mean, there were a few f-bombs obviously thrown in there. But this is our best way of doing it."
The Tkachuk brothers burst into mainstream consciousness after sparking three fights in the first nine seconds of the USA-Canada 4 Nations Face-Off game in February. They appeared on New Heights weeks later, planting the seeds for their own show.
Whether the podcast succeeds remains an open question. Hockey culture historically punishes self-expression in ways football doesn't, and the Tkachuk brothers don't have the Kelces' massive following or pop culture crossover appeal. Matthew's participation in President Trump's controversial Fitness Council has also drawn criticism from portions of the hockey fanbase.
ESPN's Greg Wyshynski captured the cautious optimism: "Obviously, you're always skeptical about current players and their level of candor on a show like this. But Brady actually doesn't have a filter and Matt knows his way around provocation. I'm intrigued. I just hope it's not overproduced or coached. Turn the mics on, let'em cook."
The first episode drops November 13. Whether it's a home run or a trainwreck, it'll definitely be entertaining.
Post a Comment