SUNRISE, Fla. — Florida Panthers star forward Matthew Tkachuk, according to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, underwent surgery and will miss the start of the 2025-26 season.
Tkachuk’s timeline for a return to the ice hasn’t been determined, but Pagnotta mentioned he could be sidelined until sometime in January.
Acquired in a blockbuster trade with the Calgary Flames in July 2022, Tkachuk, 27, suffered a torn adductor muscle and sports hernia injury while playing for Team USA in the 4 Nations Face-Off this past February.
Tkachuk missed the final 25 games of the regular season, but returned for the Stanley Cup Playoffs – pulling even with Sam Reinhart and Carter Verhaeghe for the team lead in points with 23 (eight goals, 15 assists) en route to Florida’s second consecutive Stanley Cup.
After Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final, Tkachuk revealed on the broadcast the extent of his injury, explaining how he managed to play through the pain the entire playoffs.
He added that his adductor muscle had been torn from the bone.
“I wouldn’t be here without the trainers and the doctors and those people, and that’s what makes this Cup more special for me is how hard it was just to be out there and to get to the point of playing,” Tkachuk said.
Earlier this month, ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski reported that Tkachuk remained “undecided about getting surgery before the 2025-26 season, but acknowledged he could miss significant time should he require it.”
Tkachuk is eligible to be placed on long-term injured reserve during his absence, permitting the Panthers to exceed the salary cap.
According to league rules, a player must miss at least 10 regular season games and a total of 24 days.
However, when Tkachuk returns to the ice, the Panthers must be under the team’s cap before he can be officially activated.
The team begins its quest for a three-peat on Oct. 7 against the Chicago Blackhawks at Amerant Bank Arena.
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