Written By: Samantha Roseff (@Samantha_roseff_photography)
Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk will miss the start of the 2025–26 season after undergoing surgery earlier this month.
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Tkachuk was originally injured during the 4 Nations Face-Off in February, where he logged under seven minutes in the final against Team Canada. He then sat out the opening round of the playoffs against the Tampa Bay Lightning but returned to play a crucial role in Florida’s run to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships, tallying 23 points (8 goals, 15 assists) despite being visibly injured.
After suffering the injury, Tkachuk missed the final 25 games of the regular season. He returned just in time for the playoffs, appearing in all 23 games—often playing through significant pain.
It wasn’t until after lifting the Stanley Cup that the full extent of his injuries was revealed. Tkachuk had suffered a torn adductor and a sports hernia on the right side of his body, with the adductor reportedly torn off 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—how hard it was just to be out there and to get to the point of playing,” Tkachuk said following the Cup win, per NHL.com. “I owe those guys. This Cup is because of them for me, and I’m so lucky.”
This isn’t the first time Tkachuk has battled through injury in the postseason. During the 2023 Stanley Cup Final, he played through a fractured sternum sustained after a heavy hit from Vegas Golden Knights forward Keegan Kolesar in Game 3. Tkachuk suited up for Game 4 but needed help from teammates just to get dressed and ultimately missed Game 5. It was later revealed he also suffered a broken collarbone and SI joint issues during that series.
While Tkachuk initially appeared undecided about undergoing surgery this time, he ultimately chose to move forward with the procedure. The Panthers have placed him on long-term injured reserve (LTIR), which allows the team to exceed the salary cap while he recovers.
Tkachuk is expected to return around mid-January, meaning he’ll likely miss over 40 regular-season games—a major blow for the defending champions.
Since joining the Panthers in 2022, Tkachuk has been a franchise cornerstone. He’s recorded 88 goals and 254 points in 211 regular-season games, bringing leadership, grit, and elite offensive production that’s helped turn Florida into an NHL powerhouse.
In Tkachuk’s absence, the Panthers have signed forward Luke Kunin to a one-year, $775,000 contract to help fill the gap.
