The defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers will be without second-leading scorer Matthew Tkachuk down the stretch because of the lower-body injury he suffered at the 4 Nations Face-Off.
General manager Bill Zito told reporters Monday that Tkachuk has been placed on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) and would be out ‘for an extended period of time.’ He added: ‘We hope to get him back for the playoffs.’
Tkachuk, who starred for Team USA, has missed four games since the end of the tournament.
He went on LTIR to create cap space so the Panthers could call up goalie Chris Driedger after dealing Spencer Knight to the Chicago Blackhawks in the Seth Jones trade. Players can’t go on LTIR unless they’re expected to miss at least 10 games and 24 days.
Here’s what to know about Matthew Tkachuk’s injury:
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When was Matthew Tkachuk injured?
Tkachuk had scored two goals in the USA’s 4 Nations Face-Off opener against Finland and set a tone in the next game when he and his brother Brady started fights with Canadian players in the opening seconds. But his time was limited after that.
He didn’t finish the Canada game, missed the Sweden game and started in the championship game. But the winger sat on the U.S. bench, unable to play, toward the end of the second period. He was on the bench at the start of the third and never returned to action.
Tkachuk went on ‘The Tonight Show’ last week and told host Jimmy Fallon that he was ‘feeing better, just recovering right now.’
Zito said Monday that Tkachuk’s status was up in the air.
‘You have a projection, you have a diagnosis and a rehab course of action,’ he said. ‘But how and where and in what manner the progress of that rehab is still yet to be determined.’
Other NHL players also came home with injuries from the high-intensity tournament.
Brady Tkachuk, who suffered a lower-body injury in the Sweden game but played and scored a goal in the final, returned after missing the Ottawa Senators’ first two games after the break.
Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy (USA) hurt his shoulder and Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore (Canada) hurt his arm. They’re expected out long term.
Matthew Tkachuk statistics
Tkachuk ranks second on the Panthers with 57 points in 52 games. He had a six-game goal streak before the break and played a key role in the Panthers’ back-to-back run to the Stanley Cup Final, including last season’s championship.