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Greg Wyshynski
Florida Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk mentioned he stays undecided about getting surgical procedure earlier than the 2025-26 season however acknowledged he might miss important time ought to he require it.
Tkachuk, 27, revealed after the season that he sustained a torn adductor muscle and a sports activities hernia harm whereas taking part in for Staff USA within the 4 Nations Face-Off in February. He missed the ultimate 25 video games of the NHL common season however returned for Recreation 1 of the Panthers’ first-round collection in opposition to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Tkachuk had 23 factors (8 objectives, 15 assists) in 23 video games throughout the playoffs, together with seven factors within the last in opposition to Edmonton, to guide the Panthers to their second straight Stanley Cup championship.
Coach Paul Maurice mentioned his star ahead was “a multitude” health-wise heading into the postseason.
“We weren’t hopeful at first that he would survive the primary spherical,” he mentioned.
Tkachuk mentioned after the season it was “50/50” that he’d have surgical procedure, including that the offseason offered ample time to make that decision. Tkachuk informed ESPN on Friday that “I am nonetheless hoping to hit the ice as quickly as attainable.” Ought to he determine to go beneath the knife, Tkachuk mentioned it is doubtless he’ll miss a number of months of motion.
“If I do get the surgical procedure, it will undoubtedly be the primary two or possibly three months if that is the case. Nevertheless it’s nonetheless undecided at this level,” mentioned the Panthers star, whose contract and cap hit might be positioned on long-term injured reserve throughout his restoration.
It has been a notable offseason for Tkachuk. He seems on the quilt of EA Sports activities’ “NHL 26,” and is featured together with his brother Brady and his father Keith on the quilt of the sport’s deluxe version.
He and Brady had been among the many first six gamers named to the 2026 U.S. males’s Olympic hockey roster for the Winter Video games in Italy subsequent yr. Matthew Tkachuk additionally married fiancé Ellie Connell in July.
All of that was after one other epic, multi-day Stanley Cup celebration by the Panthers in Fort Lauderdale and Miami that featured spontaneous appearances at bars, golf equipment and seashores in addition to a championship parade.
The Panthers’ probabilities for a 3rd straight Stanley Cup obtained a lift this summer time when GM Invoice Zito was in a position to re-sign a trio of star veteran free brokers: Middle Sam Bennett (8 years, $64 million), defenseman Aaron Ekblad (8 years, $48 million) and winger Brad Marchand (6 years, $31.5 million).
Tkachuk mentioned he wasn’t shocked that each one three gamers wished to stay with the Panthers, however was amazed that Zito discovered a solution to make the cash work beneath the wage cap.
“I assumed that the best way the cash was tied up, you did not comprehend it was going to be attainable, and someway it was,” he mentioned. “All people was taken care of so nicely and Invoice did an awesome job of creating certain it might occur. I feel all of them obtained rewarded very nicely, and I am simply so excited to have an opportunity to hopefully run it again with them this yr.”
Tkachuk mentioned he was assured that Ekblad would return, having been a Panther since he was drafted by Florida first general in 2014. He was rather less sure about Bennett and particularly Marchand, who each had an opportunity to interrupt the financial institution in free company.
“When Marchand first obtained traded [at the deadline], I’d’ve thought there was by no means an opportunity that we had been going to have the ability to preserve all people. However as time goes on and you’ve got success and also you get to know guys’ desires and needs for the remainder of their profession, you can begin connecting the dots,” mentioned Tkachuk. “Folks simply do not need to depart Florida after they come [here]. Now we have too good of a factor going proper now and all people desires to be part of it.”