Florida Panthers star winger Matthew Tkachuk will be out into at least December while recovering from summer surgery for injuries sustained in the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, the team's general manager Bill Zito said Wednesday.
"Don't hold me to that," Zito added, alluding to his "internet medical degree."
Zito spoke to reporters in advance of the Panthers' opening training-camp practices. The Panthers are two-time defending Stanley Cup champions, having beaten the Edmonton Oilers in back-to-back years.
That first run to the Final, in 2023-24, marked Tkachuk's debut with the Panthers, who acquired him in a July 2022 trade with the Calgary Flames. Tkachuk memorably played through an injury in that Final, establishing for a large audience what he had shown often with the Flames -- toughness and an indomitable spirit.
Those attributes were again on display during the 2024-25 playoffs. Tkachuk returned to skate for the Panthers after missing significant time with a torn adductor and sports hernia following the 4 Nations Face-Off. He did not play in a regular-season game for the Panthers after playing for Team USA, which lost the tournament's championship game to Canada.
Tkachuk' 23 postseason points were tied for the Panthers' lead upon his return to the lineup.
Zito was jokingly referring to Tkachuk's history of defying common expectations when it comes to injuries. Many people believed he would not be available for this past postseason, let alone seemingly improve with each round of the Panthers' Cup run.
Tkachuk, 27, is in his prime, and the Panthers -- seeking to become the first team team to win three straight Stanley Cups since the New York Islanders of the 1980s -- showed last season that they are content to manager their roster with an eye toward being a healthy as possible for the playoffs.
"December-ish," is one way Zito described Tkachuk's expected return.
It's possible that Zito was hinting Tkachuk could return earlier or later than December.
But sometime around the NHL's midseason appears to be a safe bet for Tkachuk playing for the Panthers, barring any setbacks.
That's the plan.
Tkachuk is one of six players already named to the United States' men's hockey team for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. The Games are staged in February, which means Tkachuk should have time to not only return to the Panthers but also shake off any rust prior to Team USA's quest to win its first gold medal in men's ice hockey since 1980's "Miracle On Ice" squad.