The Florida Panthers received some devastating news regarding the injury status of star forward Matthew Tkachuk. ESPN reported on Friday that the 27-year-old could miss up to three months of the 2025-26 season.
The report stated that Tkachuk could miss a significant chunk of next season if he elects to have surgery to repair a torn adductor muscle. The Panthers forward sustained the injury during the 4 Nations Face-Off in February. He Saturday out the final 25 games of the season, but returned to play in all 23 playoff contests.
ESPN quoted Tkachuk as saying:
"If I do get the surgery, it'll be the first two or maybe three months if that's the case. But it's still undecided at this point."
Tkachuk added that he was on the fence about the surgery, declaring that he was “50/50” about the situation.
If Tkachuk goes through with the surgery, the Florida Panthers could be without one of their core players for much of the season. The surgery could also put Tkachuk’s place on the US Olympic roster in jeopardy. Matthew and Brady Tkachuk were among the first six American players named to the US Olympic team that will participate in the 2026 Milano-Cortina Games.
Regardless of whether Tkachuk gets the surgery or not, it’s unlikely he’ll start the season for the Florida Panthers. Tkachuk may still need more time to rehab from the injury before hitting the ice again this upcoming season.
Florida Panthers will need depth to step up
The Florida Panthers are one of the deepest teams in the NHL. That situation could soften the blow of missing Matthew Tkachuk for an extended period this upcoming season.
But the big question is: Who can step up in Tkachuk’s place?
It seems like the most evident choice would be Brad Marchand. Marchand is the only truly experienced player on the Panthers’ roster with a proven track record in a top-six role. While the club could give someone like Mackie Samoskevich a look in the top six, Marchand is the no-brainer choice.
At 37, Marchand has proven he can still hang with the best. His stellar playoff performance left no doubt he’s still got plenty left in the tank. So, the Florida Panthers could easily deploy Marchand in Tkachuk’s spot for the foreseeable future.
In the meantime, a couple of spots could open up in the team’s bottom six. That situation could create some healthy competition as the team embarks on a third straight Stanley Cup championship run.