Matthew Tkachuk Nearing Return as Panthers Prep for Carolina
After months of rehab and careful progression, Matthew Tkachuk is finally back in the mix - and this time, it’s more than just light skating. The Florida Panthers forward took part in a full-contact practice on Wednesday, marking a significant step in his recovery from offseason surgery to repair a sports hernia and torn adductor.
This wasn’t just a symbolic appearance, either. Tkachuk got into the regular rotation during drills, including a few with contact - pucks on the wall, tight spaces, limited time to make decisions. The kind of sequences that test a player’s instincts and timing, even if they’re not quite game-speed.
And that’s the key question now: how does Tkachuk feel after this kind of practice?
Head coach Paul Maurice made it clear that while the medical side looks good, the final call will come down to Tkachuk himself.
“He got into a normal rotation and we did maybe three drills where there was contact, pucks on the wall, not a lot of time and space,” Maurice said. “That timing part is the thing you can’t replicate, even in practice - but it’s as close as we can get. It will be a good test for him to see how he recovers.”
The Panthers aren’t skating today as they head to Washington, D.C., for their White House visit in honor of last season’s Stanley Cup title. From there, it’s a quick turnaround to Raleigh for Friday’s matchup against the Hurricanes, followed by a return to D.C. to face the Capitals.
Could Tkachuk suit up in one of those games? That’s still up in the air.
Maurice emphasized that while the medical green light is close, the decision ultimately lies with Tkachuk - and given the kind of player he is, the team is being careful not to rush him back prematurely.
“The healing has been pretty good, his numbers are good,” Maurice said. “We just don’t want him coming in before he feels ready.
This is a guy who played with a broken collarbone. He’s going in as soon as he possibly can.
We just don’t want to influence it. It really has to be his decision when he feels he not only can go in, but stay in.”
That last part is crucial. The Panthers don’t just want Tkachuk back - they want him back for good.
And given his all-in, high-impact style of play, there’s no easing into the lineup. When he returns, it’ll be at full throttle.
Meanwhile, Brad Marchand was also on the ice Wednesday, though he wore a yellow no-contact jersey. It’s his first time skating in that capacity since missing Thursday’s game in Montreal. He’s now missed three straight with an undisclosed injury, but Maurice says there’s progress.
“He’s improving. Still day-to-day,” Maurice said.
“He’s out of contact, but still jumped into some contact drills. We just stayed off him.
So, that’s an upgrade from where he was a couple of days ago. I don’t know if that puts him in for Carolina, but he’s ahead of where he was.”
So while the Panthers continue to navigate a busy stretch of the schedule, there’s a sense of optimism around two key pieces of the roster. Tkachuk is inching closer to a return.
Marchand is trending in the right direction. And with a heavyweight matchup against the Hurricanes on deck, Florida could be getting reinforcements at just the right time.
Next Up: Game 46 - Panthers at Hurricanes.