After a long recovery, Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk is set to return to the ice, ready to rejoin his teammates against the Sharks.
The Florida Panthers are getting one of their top forwards back in the lineup.
On Monday, the Panthers held a morning skate at the Baptist Health IcePlex in Coral Springs ahead of their matchup with the San Jose Sharks.
Injured forwards Matthew Tkachuk and Brad Marchand were both on the ice, but only Tkachuk was taking regular line rushes, skating on the right side with Evan Rodrigues and Mackie Samoskevich.
Following the skate, Tkachuk told media members in the locker room that he would in fact be making his season debut against the Sharks.
Tkachuk has not played since Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final last June when he helped the Panthers win their second straight championship.
He then underwent surgery on a torn adductor and sports hernia in July, and has been working his way back to health in the weeks and months since.
Tkachuk joined his Panthers teammates for regular practices back in December, but it took him a couple weeks to shed his non-contact jersey, and couple weeks after that for him to work his way back to game shape and get clearance from the medical staff.
We’ll have to wait and see how the Panthers make it work financially, having to fit Tkachuk’s $9.5 million AAV (average annual value) underneath the salary cap.
Remember, the start time to Monday’s matchup with San Jose was moved up an hour to 6 p.m. due to the Miami Hurricanes playing the CFP Championship Game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens at 7:30 p.m.
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Photo caption: May 9, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) looks on against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the third period in game three of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)