Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk is expected to be sidelined until at least December as he recovers from offseason surgery for a sports hernia and torn adductor muscle.
GM Bill Zito announced that the timeline remains fluid, but that the team isn’t expecting him back anytime soon. The injuries cost Tkachuk the final 25 games of the regular season in 2024-25, but he was able to play through them to help guide Florida to their second consecutive Stanley Cup.
Having undergone surgery in August, and with the Panthers training camp set to open on Thursday, the veteran winger will have to watch from the press box as his team begins its quest for a three-peat.
The 27 year old was posted more than a point per game in the regular season, tallying 57 points (22G, 35A) across 52 contests. He then added another 23 points (8G, 15A) in 23 playoff games for the cats last spring.
If he were to return to the ice in December, that would give him enough time to ramp up activities and get some meaningful contests under his belt in preparation for the 2026 Winter Olympics. Matthew, along with his brother Brady, is expected to be a driving force for the American side at the Milan-Cortina Games.
The Florida Panthers kick off their 2025-26 regular season on October 7th against Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks.
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