Matthew Tkachuk gave the Florida Panthers everything he had and more during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Now, he's healing from an injury before returning to the ice.
Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk was injured during the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, suffering a broken sternum from a hit during Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final. He returned to the game after being evaluated and scored the game-tying goal that sent Game 3 into overtime. The Panthers won on a Carter Verhaeghe overtime goal.
Tkachuk was desperate to stay on the ice and help his team during the big series. Following his injury, he needed assistance from his brother, Ottawa Senators winger Brady Tkachuk, to get out of bed and get dressed. He also required assistance in the locker room to tie his skates and put his jersey on.
Despite his significiant injury, Tkachuk still got on the ice and played as much of Game 4 as he physically could. He ultimately missed most of the third period. Due to the severity of his injury, he was unable to play in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final. The Vegas Golden Knights beat the Florida Panthers in five games, winning the Stanley Cup.
Tkachuk was incredibly valuable to his team during the regular season and the playoffs. The gritty, aggressive forward pushes boundaries and plays well under pressure. He tallied 109 points during the 2022-23 regular season and 24 points during the playoffs. He scored 40 goals during the regular season.
When will Matthew Tkachuk be back on the ice?
Ahead of the 2023 NHL Awards in Nashville, Tennessee, Tkachuk spoke to the press with his right arm in a sling. Right now, he's focused on recovery and isn't sure when he'll be back on the ice.
Tkachuk is a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy, the award given to the NHL player who is most valuable to his team. He's up against Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers and David Pastrnak of the Boston Bruins.
The length of time it takes to heal from a broken sternum can vary. It could take 8-to-12 weeks to heal. Fortunately, Tkachuk has time to heal during the offseason. He is not expected to miss time from the 2023-24 regular season, and there's optimism that he should be ready for the preseason. Even if his timetable ends up on the longer side of the 8-12 week timeline, he should still be back on the ice before the preseason starts in late September.
Following the Panthers losing the Stanley Cup Final, Tkachuk and his teammates are hungrier for the Cup than ever before. Coming that close to victory and falling just short is frustrating. The Panthers are surely eager for next season to come.