Panthers key player Set to Sit One-Week Injury Update
Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice announced that superstar Matthew Tkachuk is expected to miss about a week due to illness.
The team is aiming for his return during Florida’s matchup against the Minnesota Wild on October 22. Tkachuk has already missed one game, sitting out Saturday’s loss to the Buffalo Sabres.
He will be joined in the press box by linemate Aleksander Barkov, who is sidelined with a lower-body injury and is expected to be out for two to three weeks, with hopes of returning before November.
Tkachuk has been a standout for Florida, with a stat line of two games played, two assists, two penalty minutes, and a +2 rating.
He played a crucial role in the Panthers’ journey to their first Stanley Cup last season, scoring 26 goals and totaling 88 points during the regular season, along with 22 points in 24 playoff games.
Despite his contributions, he didn’t receive votes for the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP last year, although he did garner one vote in 2023 after tallying 24 points in 20 games.
Regardless of awards, Tkachuk has established himself as the top scorer for the Panthers, posting a career-high 109 points in his first season with the team.
His absence will be felt, pushing Florida to rely more on secondary scorer Sam Reinhart. Rookie Mackie Samoskevich could also see an increased role, though he has yet to score in his first 10 NHL games.
If not Samoskevich, fellow rookie Patrick Giles may get the chance to step up.
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