The Florida Panthers proceed to battle and stay within the Japanese Convention Playoff race with out a number of key gamers, together with captain Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk. Tkachuk stays out of the lineup after having surgical procedure to restore a torn adductor muscle and sports activities hernia in August 2025, after sustaining these accidents in February 2025, proper across the time 4 Nations occurred.
NHL Information: Matthew Tkachuk and NHL World Cup of Hockey
Talking throughout the first intermission of the Panthers recreation in opposition to the Colorado Avalanche, Tkachuk says he stays on monitor to return to the lineup as soon as he sheds his non-contact jersey in observe. When he finally returns to the lineup is just not his name, however he has a date in thoughts.
“I’ve bought, like, a target-ish, it’s at all times been type of the place we’re at proper now, like we’re on monitor,” Tkachuk stated. “So each field that has had it been checked up to now has been and I assume the final one earlier than taking part in is taking off the No Contact jersey, which we’ll have one other few skates right here, and a pair calls and determine it out from there. However we’re feeling fairly good proper now.”
As beforehand talked about, Tkachuk bought harm throughout the event representing Staff USA. It was a memorable evening in Montreal, QC, Canada, with three fights in 9 seconds. Nonetheless, shortly after his return, Tkachuk couldn’t end that recreation and was very restricted within the Gold Medal recreation. Staff USA misplaced in extra time to Canada.
Matthew Tkachuk: “There Was Uncertainty About Enjoying within the Playoffs“
Tkachuk missed the remainder of the common season for the Florida Panthers earlier than returning to the lineup for Sport 1 of Spherical 1 in opposition to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Nonetheless, if the Panthers didn’t have an opportunity to repeat as Stanley Cup Champions, Tkachuk most likely would have gotten surgical procedure instantly.
“I imply, I’d have gotten the surgical procedure final 12 months, and, you already know, February or March, or no matter, if I didn’t assume we had an opportunity. I assume it’s type of what I signed up for by making the choice final late February or early March, by using it out after which finally understanding. I’m positive I lied/fibbed to you guys a number of occasions within the spring, saying I’m feeling good and possibly gained’t want surgical procedure, however I knew at the back of my thoughts that it was finally going to must occur. So I wouldn’t change it for the world, fortunate to have our staff’s identify on the cup yet one more time. So it was, it was all value it.”
Tkachuk began practising with the staff in a non-contact jersey simply after Christmas and took part within the staff’s observe forward of the January 2nd Winter Basic, wherein the Panthers misplaced 5-1 to the New York Rangers. Whereas Tkachuk was in a position to participate within the festivities and take in the moments of the occasion, he wished to be on the market along with his teammates.
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There was not going to be any drama from Paul Maurice throughout the Winter Basic for a doable Tkachuk return. Nonetheless, the Panthers are heading on a six-game street journey as soon as this homestand wraps up, and there’s a likelihood he may return.
“Whether or not I’m taking part in on this six-game street journey, I imply, if it have been to occur, most likely be in the direction of the top of it, simply because I’m nonetheless within the non-contact jersey, however I don’t actually have a goal proper now, if that’s it or not,” Tkachuk added. “So it’s simply gonna be good to be on the street, getting the routine and figuring it out from there. However hopefully it’s not an excessive amount of longer earlier than you’re seeing me again out via the boys.”
His preseason video games and tune for the Olympics for Staff USA would be the regular-season video games he will get into proper earlier than the break. Once more, Matthew Tkachuk is following medical doctors’ orders, regardless that his affected person has been examined, understanding how a lot he desires to be on the market.
As Tkachuk ramps up the depth in observe and will get the all-clear from the medical doctors, the Panthers will turn out to be a more durable staff to play in opposition to as they march towards a three-peat.
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