Panthers' Matthew Tkachuk to Miss Start of Season

The Florida Panthers will be without superstar forward Matthew Tkachuk as they begin their quest for a three-peat.

Jun 17, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) controls the puck against the Edmonton Oilers during the second period in game six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images / Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk underwent surgery earlier this summer and will miss the start of the regular season, David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reports.

The timetable for Tkachuk's return is unclear, but Pagnotta said he could be out until January. A major blow for the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions as they begin their quest for a three-peat.

Can confirm Matthew Tkachuk underwent surgery a few weeks ago and will miss the start of the season.

Timeline is unclear, but he could be out of action as long as sometime in January.

— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) August 22, 2025

Tkachuk, 27, first suffered the injury while representing the U.S. at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February, which led to him playing less than seven minutes in the final against Canada. He then did not return until Game 1 of the first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, and despite still being visibly injured, scored 23 points (eight goals, 15 assists) in as many games to help Florida win its second-straight Stanley Cup.

Only after winning the Cup did Tkachuk reveal the nature of his injury, sharing that he suffered a torn adductor muscle and a sports hernia on the same side of his body. He added that the adductor muscle was torn from 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 is how hard it was just to be out there and to get to the point of playing," Tkachuk said after winning the Cup, per NHL.com. "I owe those guys. This Cup is because of them for me, and I’m so lucky.”

Tkachuk told ESPN's Greg Wyshynski earlier this month that he was still undecided on getting the surgery, noting the long recovery time.

"If I do get the surgery, it'll definitely be the first two or maybe three months if that's the case. But it's still undecided at this point," Tkachuk said.

Since arriving in Florida in 2022, Tkachuk has been a game-changer for the Panthers. The star forward has 88 goals and 254 points in 211 regular season games, and his grit and leadership have helped the Panthers go from a downtrodden franchise to the envy of the entire NHL.

“Coming down here to Florida changed my life forever,” Tkachuk said. “Three finals, two championships, this is more than why you play the game. This is what makes it all worth it and it’s so special. I just have so many people to thank.”

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