Panthers' Matthew Tkachuk, Tomas Nosek Expected to Miss Months amid Injury Recovery

Florida Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk will be sidelined for at least the first two months of the 2024-25 season after undergoing offseason surgery to address a torn adductor muscle and sports hernia injury, general manager Bill Zito told reporters Wednesday.

Panthers forward Tomas Nosek will also miss "months" of the upcoming season after suffering a knee injury this offseason, Zito told reporters.

Zito estimated Tkachuk would be out "until December-ish," per Panthers radio announcer Doug Plagens.

Tkachuk, who was hurt during the 4 Nations Face-Off in February, returned for the postseason and played through injury during the Panthers' run to a second straight Stanley Cup. He said in August that he was still deciding whether or not to undergo surgery.

Panthers head coach Paul Maurice meanwhile said Wednesday morning on an appearance on The Joe Rose Show (h/t Audacy) that the team wouldn't know specifics about Tkachuk's return timeline for another month.

"He's just come out of the surgery, he's healing now. In about four weeks we'll take a look at him," Maurice said Wednesday. "It's not going to be short term... maybe mid-season, something like that."

Tkachuk revealed after the Panthers defeated the Edmonton Oilers in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final that he had suffered the injuries on the same side of his body, and described his adductor muscle as being torn "off the bone."

He told ESPN's Greg Wyshynski in August that he was still undecided on surgery which would sideline him for "the first two or maybe three months" of the season.

Nosek has also undergone surgery on his injury, Zito told reporters (h/t Florida Hockey Now's George Richards).

The veteran center was limited to 59 games last season due to scratches and injuries, including an upper-body issue that sidelined him for the first month of the season, before going on to play a key depth role in the playoffs.

Tkachuk's absence will open up a spot alongside Sam Bennett on the second line. Carter Verhaeghe and Evan Rodrigues, who both spent time skating alongside Bennett last season, will be options as linemates. Mackie Samoskevich could be another option if the Panthers decide to elevate his role following the winger's rookie season.

Nosek, who averaged under 10 minutes per game last season but took the fourth-most faceoffs on the team, was meanwhile expected to be tasked with anchoring the fourth line. His absence could create an opportunity for Luke Kunin, who signed with the team in late August, to compete for a bottom-six spot during training camp.

Losing key players to injuries isn't a surprise for the Panthers, given how much hockey the team has played since 2022. Three consecutive trips to the Stanley Cup Final mean the Panthers have competed in 68 additional games over the last three years.

The Panthers will begin the ramp-up to their two-time title defense when training camp kicks off Thursday at Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale.