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 spending much of the second half of last season, including Florida’s run to their second consecutive Stanley Cup, dealing with a sports hernia and a tear in his adductor muscle. The player himself shared this information on the “Wingmen” podcast, which he co-hosts with his brother, Brady Tkachuk.
“He still has a ways to go, but he’s back on the ice and he wasn’t two weeks ago,” said Panthers coach Paul Maurice. “So we’re taking it slow.”
Paul MauriceThe Panthers have been working under the premise that Tkachuk could return “around December”, which still seems logical. His return is expected to 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 define the next phase of his recovery plan. “I’m excited to get back with my teammates,” Tkachuk said. “I don’t know when it will be, but obviously I’m getting over that hurdle and hopefully it’s soon. Things are starting to go really well.” Maurice mentioned that Tkachuk has several goals to achieve on the road to his return. Tkachuk missed the last 25 games of the regular season last spring, but was able to play despite injuries for the Panthers, who won their second consecutive Stanley Cup. It also appears that Tkachuk is on track to be with the USA Hockey team at the Milan-Cortina Olympics in February. In 23 playoff games, including seven points in the Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers. The Panthers defeated the Oilers in six games.“I just have to get going and start feeling good, and hopefully, I’ll pick up where I left off, or even better,” Tkachuk said. “That’s the ideal plan.”
Matthew Tkachuk
