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Insider Hints at Unexpected Twist for Matthew Tkachuk Ahead of New Season
NHL analyst Elliotte Friedman has revealed that Matthew Tkachuk could be absent for the defending champion Florida Panthers all the way through the February Olympics in Milan because of his injuries.
The Florida Panthers could very well be without one of their main forwards for the start of the year, as Matthew Tkachuk is reportedly set to miss considerable time rehabilitating his numerous injuries.
Per NHL analyst Elliotte Friedman on his latest '32 Thoughts' podcast, Tkachuk could potentially miss the 1st several months of what will be Florida's 2nd straight Stanley Cup defense.
However, Friedman also said Tkachuk could potentially be back to join the American squad in the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Elliotte Friedman: We're gonna find out at some point here that Matthew Tkachuk will miss the start of the season; I think he'll be back in time for the Olympics; I think he's gonna miss the start of the year and a chunk of time after that - 32 Thoughts Podcast (8/3)
As with the Panthers, Tkachuk was one of the main forwards for the American team and they'll be boosted by his potential presence.
Tkachuk played through a torn adductor and a sports hernia throughout the playoffs, injuries he initially suffered while participating in the 4 Nations Faceoff in February.
The Panthers are starting their 2nd straight year of Stanley Cup defense
The Panthers continued their dominance in the NHL by winning their 2nd straight Stanley Cup, and did so with a 2nd straight series victory over the Edmonton Oilers.
The Panthers and Oilers became the 1st SCF rematch since the 2008 and 2009 Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins; both teams won once.
With Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand, and Aaron Ekblad all re-signed this summer by Panthers GM Bill Zito, Florida has all of their core pieces under contract for the next several years and has a reach chance at a new modern dynasty.
| POLL | ||
AOUT 4 | 57 ANSWERS Insider Hints at Unexpected Twist for Matthew Tkachuk Ahead of New Season Will Matthew Tkachuk's absence hurt the Panthers in the 1st half of the year? | ||
| Yes | 33 | 57.9 % |
| No | 24 | 42.1 % |
| List of polls | ||