FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Matthew Tkachuk returned to the ice with the Florida Panthers on Sunday, appearing in practice for the first time this season and more than four months after undergoing surgery to repair a sports hernia and a torn adductor muscle.
Tkachuk has not played since Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final, when the Panthers won their second straight title by again beating the Edmonton Oilers. He spent the summer trying to rehabilitate, but ultimately decided he needed surgery.
“It looks amazing,” Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe said. “It's good to see him back. He brought us some energy today, that's for sure.”
Tkachuk was wearing a yellow non-contact jersey, an indication that he is not yet ready for game action. Florida hosts Washington on Monday and Montreal on Tuesday, then will be the home team of the NHL Winter Classic at the Miami Marlins' stadium against the New York Rangers on Friday.
The Panthers are scheduled to practice at the stadium on Thursday, but there is no guarantee Tkachuk will play on Friday.
“There's a lot of things he has to overcome. The question is whether there's enough time,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. “He may be healthy enough or close to healthy enough to be able to play, but we're not guessing about this… As much as we love the show and would love for him to be a part of it, it would be great for the game to see him out there, the Florida Panthers need him healthy for the rest of the year.”
After the Panthers won their second consecutive Stanley Cup in June, Tkachuk revealed that he had suffered the injuries while playing for Team USA in the 4 Nations Face-Off in February. He missed the final 25 games of the regular season, but returned for Game 1 of the Panthers' first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Tkachuk scored 23 points (eight goals and 15 assists) in 23 playoff games, including seven points in the Stanley Cup Final.
The Panthers have been without many key players all season, including captain Aleksander Barkov. They entered Sunday tied for the second and final wild card in the Eastern Conference, just five points behind the lead in the Atlantic Division.
Florida has gone into this season with the expectation that Tkachuk would return to a “December” type timeline. He has said he wants to play in the Winter Classic, the Panthers' first outdoor game, and for Team USA at the Milan Cortina Olympics in February.
“We will enjoy the improvement of talent,” Maurice said. “He's a great player. But it's more of the personality. He's chirping on the ice, right? He's giving it to the guys. They're laughing. He brings a little joy to everyone. He's fun on the bench. He's got an unbelievable emotional IQ in terms of the game of hockey. When nothing needs to happen, he doesn't do anything. When something needs to happen, he figures out the right path.”
