In Photos: Stanley Cup champ Matthew Tkachuk meets up with MLB legend Albert Pujols at ACC golf championship

By Abhilasha Aditi

Modified Jul 14, 2024 15:21 GMT

Having defeated the Edmonton Oilers in a seven-game series, Matthew Tkachuk and the Florida Panthers won their first Stanley Cup this season.

Former Dominican-American baseball player Albert Pujols played in the MLB for 22 seasons. He was part of popular franchises like the Cardinals, Angels and Dodgers. Pujols, nicknamed "the Machine," is considered one of the greatest baseball players ever.

On Saturday, Pujols posted a picture on Instagram of him with Tkachuk. In the post, Tkachuk wore an Under Armour T-shirt, and Pujols wore a sky-blue polo. In another post shared by Pujols, he was playing golf at the American Century Championship (ACC).

"Having an amazing time at the @acchampionship this week. Such a beautiful setting and can’t wait to get back out for Round 2!" Pujols captioned the post.

Matthew Tkachuk credits team for Stanley Cup win and shares his father's advice before Game 7

Matthew Tkachuk is still celebrating the team’s first Stanley Cup win. Tkachuk credits the team’s confidence and experience for their success.

“For sure,” Tkachuk said (via forbes.com). “We were so confident heading into Game 7, because we were coming home.”

The winger also shared what advice his father and former NHL star Keith had given him before heading into Game 7.

“Go out and make a difference,” Tkachuk said, reiterating what his father had said. “Enjoy this moment. Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, this is what you dream about. It's exactly what you've dreamt about your whole life. I thought having him and my brother walk out to the car was a really cool moment.”

The Panthers' success with two straight Stanley Cup Finals came after Tkachuk joined in 2022. Acquired from the Calgary Flames, Tkachuk helped the team win its first playoff series since 1996 in his first season.

Tkachuk compared the 2023 and 2024 finals, pointing out the team’s improved depth and focused mindset.

“I think that our depth this year — that's how we got to the playoffs — and that's how we ended up winning it all,” Tkachuk said.

He shared the importance of a collective effort and staying composed during the playoffs.

“We had so many guys play just so solid. It was a full team effort. I felt like the year before, we were kind of just a bunch of bad boys riding the wave to the Finals,” Tkachuk added.

While Tkachuk concentrates on the golf tournament, he still aims to win another Stanley Cup and hopes to repeat his success.