The Florida Panthers will be without their star Forward Matthew Tkachuk for the rest of the regular season. The Panthers confirmed Monday that Tkachuk will be on long-term IR with a groin injury. He sustained the injury during the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. Florida Panthers GM Bill Zito is hopeful the star player can return for the playoffs.
Matthew Tkachuk Out For Regular Season
Zito reported Monday that Tkachuk will be out for an extended period but is hopeful to have him back for the playoffs. Tkachuk ranks second on the team with 57 points with 22 goals and 35 assists in 52 games. Since joining the Florida Panthers, he became a Stanley Cup Champion. He totaled 636 points (240 goals, 396 assists) in his career with the Calgary Flames and Florida Panthers.
Tkachuk played in the 4 Nations Face-Off during the NHL break in February for Team USA. That was when he sustained a groin injury that led him to sit out the Final against Canada. It was the first time the NHL had an international tournament since the 2016 Winter Olympics.
Now that the Florida Panthers are without Tkachuk, Zito has already made a move at the NHL Trade Deadline trading Goaltender Spencer Knight to the Chicago Blackhawks for Defenseman Seth Jones. This week will be busy for the Panthers and Zito to see if they need any other players at the deadline to replace Tkachuk if he is not ready for the playoffs. “Busy week,” Zito said. “I like our team. I’m happy with our team. But if we can get better, we get better. That’s what we do.”
Forwards Evan Rodrigues and Mackie Samoskevich could see additional ice time in place of Tkachuk, who has totaled 57 points (22 goals, 35 assists) in 52 NHL games this season. In addition to adding Jones at this morning’s skate, he was seen on the ice with the second powerplay unit for the Panthers.
Going Forward For the Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers have 21 games left in the regular season. They will then head into the playoffs with Tkachuk hopefully healthy enough to return. Jones will make his debut with the Panthers Monday night against the inter-state rivals Tampa Bay Lightning.
It will be interesting to see if the Florida Panthers will make any more moves at the trade deadline this week, but it seems they will keep busy seeking out players now that Tkachuk is out for the regular season and without a clear timetable for his return. Will Zito make a blockbuster move? He is known to be aggressive with the Panthers on improving the roster.
