Panthers' Matthew Tkachuk could miss 2-3 months if he elects surgery

Florida Panthers star forward Matthew Tkachuk could miss two to three months if he decides to have surgery on his torn adductor muscle and sports hernia injury, he told ESPN on Friday.

The two-time Stanley Cup champion reportedly has not decided yet whether he will have surgery during the offseason for the injuries he sustained in the 4 Nations Face-Off in February.

He was placed on long-term injured reserve on March 2 and did not return to the ice until the playoffs, when he notched 23 points (eight goals, 15 assists) in 23 games on the way to the Panthers' second straight Stanley Cup championship.

"I'm still hoping to hit the ice as soon as possible," Tkachuk told ESPN. "If I do get the surgery, it'll definitely be the first two or maybe three months if that's the case. But it's still undecided at this point."

So far this offseason, Tkachuk seems to be busy. He has repeatedly celebrated the Panthers' championship in South Florida, appears on the cover of EA Sports' "NHL 26" and was one of the first six players selected for the 2026 U.S. Olympic men's hockey roster for next year's Winter Games in Italy.

Tkachuk, 27, had 22 goals and 35 assists (57 points) in 52 games last season before the injuries finished his regular season. He has totaled 636 points (240 goals, 396 assists) in 642 career regular season games with the Calgary Flames (2016-2022) and Panthers.