Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk is making steady progress from offseason surgery and could resume on-ice training in the next two weeks. The superstar has been sidelined since August due to a torn adductor muscle and sports hernia. Coach Paul Maurice provided the positive update following Thursday's practice.
Matthew Tkachuk, the Florida Panthers' superstar forward, is on track to begin on-ice rehabilitation soon after undergoing surgery in August to repair a torn adductor muscle and sports hernia. The injury initially occurred while Tkachuk played for Team USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February. Despite missing the final 25 regular-season games last year, he returned for the playoffs, appearing in all 23 contests and tying for the team lead with 23 points (8 goals, 15 assists), alongside Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Reinhart.
In 211 regular-season games with the Panthers, Tkachuk has accumulated 254 points (88 goals, 166 assists), the most on the team during that period. Head coach Paul Maurice shared the encouraging news after Thursday's morning skate at Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale. "We're looking for him to hit the ice in the next two weeks," Maurice said.
Tkachuk discussed his rehab on the debut episode of his new podcast 'Wingmen,' co-hosted with his brother Brady Tkachuk of the Ottawa Senators. "I’ve been out of the picture for a while," he said. "Nobody has really seen me except for the guys at the rink and who I’m rehabbing with... It’s allowed me to keep a really good focus. I’m working harder than I’ve ever worked."
The Panthers, who won back-to-back Stanley Cups and are pursuing a three-peat, are dealing with multiple injuries. Captain Aleksander Barkov is out 7-9 months following knee surgery, while forwards Tomas Nosek (knee) and Jonah Gadjovich (upper body), and defenseman Dmitry Kulikov (shoulder) are also sidelined long-term. Barkov had 22 points (6 goals, 16 assists) in last season's playoffs.
Maurice explained the recovery process: "There is this block of healing time where they are not doing much... Then there comes a day when the doctor says: 'Now you can go. Now you can start progressing.' How fast they get back to playing after that will be conditioning."
General manager Bill Zito had targeted a mid-December return for Tkachuk, who emphasized his preparation. "I really have to make sure that I’m feeling as good as I can when I come back because we’re down some bodies," Tkachuk said. "Probably going to throw me right in the fire, so I have to be ready." He added, "I couldn’t be happier with how I feel at the moment."
The Panthers enter their homestand with an 8-7-1 record, sitting sixth in the Atlantic Division.