Matthew Tkachuk practices with Panthers for first time in 2025-26
A positive sight in South Beach.
On Sunday, Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk was seen skating with the team for the first time this season.
Tkachuk was seen wearing a yellow, non-contact sweater during practice.
Matthew Tkachuk is back on the ice for practice for the first time this season. He’s wearing a yellow non-contact jersey.
It has been a long road of recovery for the 28-year-old. Tkachuk was injured during the 4 Nations Face-Off last February, missing one of the preliminary round games, playing sparingly in the two games against Canada. The injury, later revealed to be a torn adductor muscle and a sports hernia, kept him out for the remainder of the 2024-25 regular season.
However, he returned for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, being an important piece in helping the Panthers win a second straight championship at the expense of the Edmonton Oilers. The Scottsdale, Ariz. native posted 23 points in 23 games, including another three goals and seven points in the six games against Edmonton. This, despite the fact that he looked uncomfortable throughout the postseason.
Tkachuk noted that he was uncertain during the initial weeks of the offseason about whether he would undergo surgery, but ended up going under the knife during the summer, leading to him missing the start of the season. The initial reports stated that Tkachuk could return by January, which seems possible given that he has been skating post-holiday.
Not only is Tkachuk’s inevitable return a positive for Florida, as the Cats are busy fighting for a Wild Card spot as the New Year is in sight, but it means he could be up to 100% by February, meaning he should be ready to join brother Brady and Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy.
The Panthers (20-15-2) are fourth in the Atlantic Division, holding onto the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. They are scheduled to host the Washington Capitals on Monday night.