Florida Panthers fans might be in for a nerve-wracking wait. Matthew Tkachuk, one of the team’s most important players and a driving force behind their back-to-back Stanley Cup wins, has revealed he’s still unsure whether he’ll undergo surgery before the 2025-26 NHL season.
The decision could sideline him for months, a blow that could change the Panthers’ early-season momentum and their quest for a historic third straight championship.
Matthew Tkachuk Weighs Surgery Decision That Could Sideline Him for Months
Tkachuk has opened up about his uncertain medical future, telling ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski that he’s still deciding whether to have surgery before the start of the upcoming season. The 27-year-old forward admitted that he could miss the first two or three months of the 2025-26 NHL season if he chooses surgery.
“It’s still undecided at this point,” Tkachuk explained, adding that the chances of him going through with the procedure are “50/50.” His focus, regardless of the decision, is to “hit the ice as soon as possible.”
It’s been an unbelievable run for Matthew Tkachuk since joining the Panthers in 2022 👀🔥 pic.twitter.com/TyQ8ZSzQg3
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) August 4, 2025
The injury isn’t minor. Shortly after the Panthers clinched their second consecutive Stanley Cup with a victory over the Edmonton Oilers, Tkachuk revealed that he had been dealing with a torn adductor muscle and a sports hernia. Both injuries occurred in February during his time with Team USA in the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off tournament.
These injuries kept Tkachuk out for the final 25 games of the regular season. Yet, in a testament to his resilience, he returned for Game 1 of the opening-round playoff series against the Tampa Bay Lightning and played like a man completely unaffected by pain.
Tkachuk’s playoff performance was nothing short of remarkable. He tied for the team lead in postseason points with 23, scoring three goals and adding four assists in the Stanley Cup Final alone. Watching him play, few would have guessed he was battling through serious injuries.
MORE: Matthew Tkachuk Breaks Silence on Pending Surgery That Could Rule Him Out for Start of NHL Season
Tkachuk has been a cornerstone of the Panthers’ success since joining the Panthers in a blockbuster 2023 trade with the Calgary Flames. His scoring, grit, and leadership have helped define the team’s identity, and losing him for any length of time would create a significant gap in the Panthers’ top six.
For a team chasing history, his absence would be felt even more. The Panthers aim to become the first NHL team since the early-1980s New York Islanders to win three Stanley Cups. The roster is still in strong shape; general manager Bill Zito managed to re-sign key players like Sam Bennett (eight years, $64 million), Aaron Ekblad (eight years, $48 million), and Brad Marchand (six years, $31.5 million) before free agency opened.
