Florida Panthers star ahead Matthew Tkachuk is more likely to be out till “December-ish,” in line with GM Invoice Zito after present process surgical procedure for a lower-body harm.

Tkachuk had the surgical procedure in late August, and although it was recognized that he’d miss the beginning of the season, Zito’s newest feedback present extra of a timetable for his return. Zito, nevertheless, mentioned it is a hopeful timetable quite than a tough one, per workforce reporter Jessica Blaylock.

Tkachuk suffered a torn adductor muscle and a sports activities hernia harm whereas taking part in for america within the 4 Nations Face-Off, although he did not reveal the seriousness of the accidents till after his Panthers had received the Stanley Cup.

“I tore my adductor off the bone and had some hernia factor all on the identical facet,” Tkachuk mentioned to TNT’s Darren Pang when requested about his accidents. “I needed to throw within the towel a bunch of instances.”

Tkachuk missed the ultimate 25 video games of the common season as a result of accidents, however he was on the ice for the playoffs as Florida efficiently defended its title. He posted eight targets and 15 assists within the postseason, tying Sam Reinhart and Carter Verhaeghe for the workforce lead in factors (23).

Invoice Guerin, the GM for Workforce USA hockey on the 2026 Olympics, expects to have Tkachuk for the Video games, per NHL.com. It is the primary Olympics that NHL gamers are collaborating in since Sochi in 2014. Matthew Tkachuk and his brother Brady Tkachuk had been among the many U.S.’s “first six” reveal again in June, together with Jack Eichel, Auston Matthews, Quinn Hughes and Charlie McAvoy.