Matthew Tkachuk made it clear there was no distance he wasn’t willing to go in his pursuit for the Stanley Cup. After hoisting another Cup with the Florida Panthers, reports around the NHL indicate the star forward will have to miss some time in the upcoming season.
Tkachuk is the ultimate leader for the Panthers. His impact—both on and off the ice—is something even a thousand words couldn’t do justice. He puts his body on the line night in and night out, and it eventually caught up to him during the 2025 Stanley Cup run. Still, Tkachuk wouldn’t have it any other way.
However, time has passed now and the Panthers are looking ahead to the 2025-26 NHL season. On that note, the 27-year-old won’t be available to go when the puck drops on October 7, and could instead miss considerable time.
“We’re going to find out at some point here, that Tkachuk will miss the start of the season. I think he will be back in time for the 2026 Olympics, obviously that’s a huge deal for him. It was always going to be set up that way,” insider Elliotte Friedman said on the 32 Thoughts Podcast.
“I think he is going to miss the start of the season and a chunk of time after that. I don’t know what the timeline is going to be, but it’s going to be something like that.”
LTIR could save the day
As reported by Friedman, the Panthers know they won’t have Tkachuk on the opening night lineup when the NHL season kickstarts on Oct. 7. While it’s undeniably a tough blow to the roster, it could also act as a blessing in disguise. That is, provided Tkachuk will be fully-healthy and good to go later in the season.
As Florida continues to battle its salary cap situation, most rumors around the league hinted forward Evan Rodrigues would be dealt away. However, placing Tkachuk on long-term injured reserve could shift things in somewhat of the Panthers’ favor.
E-Rod stays, Tkachuk rests: the Panthers roll on
“I think that a number of fans have wondered if Florida would have to trade someone like Rodrigues off their roster to make things work. I don’t believe that’s going to be happening,” Friedman said. “They consider him a very important player.”
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At the end of the day, the Cats have faced adversity before and boast a lineup that thrives when the tide gets rough. Moreover, Florida has been without Tkachuk before—and things turned out just fine. Is it ideal? Of course not. But the Panthers have more than enough reason to believe everything will work out for the best.