FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Matthew Tkachuk is back skating, although there is still no set date for his season debut with the Florida Panthers. Tkachuk underwent surgery in August after dealing with a sports hernia and a tear in his adductor muscle for much of the second half of last season, including Florida’s run to the Stanley Cup. The player himself shared this information on the “Wingmen” podcast, which he co-hosts with his brother.
The Panthers have been operating under the premise that Tkachuk could return “around December”, which still seems logical. His return would be a big boost for an injury-hit team, which has been without its captain Aleksander Barkov, after suffering a knee injury. Tkachuk spent the first weeks of the summer rehabilitating in the hope of avoiding surgery, but ultimately underwent the procedure immediately after his wedding and honeymoon in France. He skated twice last week and then met with doctors to chart the next phase of the plan. I’m excited to go out with my teammates. I don’t know when it will be, but I’m obviously overcoming that obstacle and it’s sooner rather than later. It’s starting to go very, very well. Maurice mentioned that there are a series of milestones that Tkachuk must reach along the way. Tkachuk missed the last 25 games of the regular season last spring, but was able to play despite injuries with the Panthers when they won their second consecutive Stanley Cup. It also appears that Tkachuk is on track to be with USA Hockey at the Milan-Cortina Olympics in February. He had 23 points (8 goals, 15 assists) in 23 playoff games, including seven points in the Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers. The Panthers defeated the Oilers in six games.There’s still quite a bit to go, but he’s back on the ice and he wasn’t two weeks ago. So we’re going to take it easy.
Paul Maurice, Panthers Coach
I just have to get the jets going and start feeling good, and hopefully pick up where I left off, if not, hopefully better. That’s the ideal plan.
Matthew Tkachuk
