Florida Panthers Forward Matthew Tkachuk could be sidelined for some time because of an injury suffered last season. He tore his abductor muscle and sports hernia during the 4 Nations Tournament. When will he be healthy enough to return to the ice?
Matthew Tkachuk Could Be Out For Months
Tkachuk told ESPN he’s still hoping to hit the ice as soon as possible. If he does get the surgery, he will miss the first three months of the NHL season. It is unclear what the Panthers star will do. The Florida Panthers could opt to place him on long-term injured reserve. He had 57 points in 52 regular season games last season and added another 23 points during the NHL Playoffs.
Even if he does miss the beginning of the season, the Panthers still have the core players since General Manager Bill Zito was able to retain the bulk of the roster. Who could step up in Tkachuk’s place? It seems like the evident choice would be Brad Marchand, who has plenty of experience. The Panthers also have Mackie Samoskevich, who has brought skill and good chemistry to the Panthers’ power play and third line.
Final Thoughts
The Florida Panthers will start the season at home against the Chicago Blackhawks on October 7. If Tkachuk does miss the beginning of the season, the back-to-back champions will rely on experience and chemistry to stay in contention for the playoffs.
