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Worrying Injury News Hits Matthew Tkachuk and the Florida Panthers

Originally posted on House of Hockey | By Jack Sutherland | Last updated Jul 20, 2025 2:30 PM ET

The 2nd straight Stanley Cup for the Florida Panthers may have come at a cost, as assistant captain Matthew Tkachuk could miss the start of next year, healing the multiple injuries that he played through during the postseason.

The Florida Panthers have won the Stanley Cup for the 2nd straight year over the Edmonton Oilers, becoming the 4th back to back Cup winner since the 1997-98 Detroit Red Wings, 2016-2017 Pittsburgh Penguins, and 2020-21 Tampa Bay Lightning.

Hockey has taken off in the Sunshine State in recent years, as the Stanley Cup Final has involved at least one Florida-based team since 2020.

But while the Panthers continue to celebrate, they could be starting next year severely shorthanded.

Assistant captain Matthew Tkachuk, who missed the last several months of the regular season after an injury sustained during the 4 Nations Faceoff, could miss the start of the year and be unavailable for several weeks, even months, while he continues to heal his multiple ailments.

Per analyst Nick Kypreos, Tkachuk could undergo surgery and potentially be gone all the way through the Christmas break in late December.

Nick Kypreos: There's a possibility that Matthew Tkachuk's injury may need corrective surgery which could keep him out through the Christmas break - Sportsnet

This was confirmed by Florida Hockey Now analyst George Richards, who recently said that Tkachuk was almost certainly going to miss the start of the year.

Following the Cup win, Tkachuk announced he had been playing through some considerable injury troubles, including a torn adductor and a sports hernia.

Tkachuk demonstrated that he was able to play through considerable pain, but he could be in for a long recovery time.

This article first appeared on House of Hockey and was syndicated with permission.

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