Florida Panthers

Panthers Expect Matthew Tkachuk to Miss Rest of Regular Season

Published

3 weeks ago

March 3, 2025

Matthew Tkachuk, here celebrating a second-period goal with Sasha Barkov on Feb. 8, is expected to miss the remainder of the regular season. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

FORT LAUDERDALE — Florida Panthers general manager Bill Zito confirmed Monday morning that Matthew Tkachuk has been put on LTIR and that he is expected to miss the remainder of the regular season.

Tkachuk was injured playing for Team USA at the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off where he sustained what is believed to be a groin injury.

The Panthers put Tkachuk on LTIR Sunday in order to free up enough salary cap space to recall backup goalie Chris Driedger from AHL Charlotte.

With Tkachuk’s cap hit of $9.5 million not counting due to rules of LTIR, the Panthers have approximately $8.7 million in available cap space per PuckPedia at the NHL Trade Deadline which is Friday afternoon.

“We have space,’’ Zito said on Monday in Seth Jones’ introductory press conference. “Matthew is going to be out for an extended period of time, and, we hope to get him back for the playoffs.’’

Tkachuk will miss his sixth straight game tonight against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

In order to come off LTIR, he would have to miss 10 games and 24 days; if he is healthy, he could play in Florida’s first playoff game without any sort of salary cap complication because teams do not need to be cap compliant in the postseason.

ON DECK: GAME No. 62

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING AT FLORIDA PANTHERS

When: Monday, 7 p.m.
Where: Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise
Local TV: Scripps Sports — WSFL 39 (Miami/FtL); WHDT 9 (WPB); LAFF 36.3 (SWFla)
Streaming: Panthers+, ESPN+
Radio: WPOW 96.5-FM2; WBZT 1230-AM (Palm Beach); WCTH 100.3-FM (Florida Keys); SiriusXM
Panthers Radio Streaming: SiriusXM 932, NHL App
Season Series (Lightning Lead 1-0) — At Tampa Bay: Sunday; Ap. 15. At Florida: Lightning 4, Panthers 0 (Dec. 23); Monday.
Last Regular Season: Panthers Won 2-1
All-time Regular Season Series: Florida leads 77-52-19, 10 ties
All-Time Postgame Series: Lightning Leads 2-1 (won 2021 first-round, 2022 ECS); Florida d. Lightning 4-1 in 2024 first-round.
Up Next for the Panthers: Thursday vs. Columbus Blue Jackets, 7 p.m.