Matthew Tkachuk was one of several important Panthers sidelined by injury this season. Brian Babineau / NHLI via Getty Images
Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk made his season debut Monday night in a 4-1 loss to the San Jose Sharks.
Monday’s loss was the American winger’s first NHL game since recovering from surgery in August to treat an adductor injury and sports hernia. Tkachuk, 28, last played in June during Florida’s cup-clinching Game 6 win of the Stanley Cup Final over the Edmonton Oilers. The two-time Cup champion spent Monday’s game-day skate alongside linemates Evan Rodrigues and Mackie Samoskevich, according to reports.
He’s in. pic.twitter.com/66gd7rPGZS
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) January 19, 2026
The Panthers forward scored 22 goals and 57 points in 52 NHL games last season, then scored two goals and added an assist in three games at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February. However, he was injured during the tournament and missed the remainder of the NHL regular season. He returned in time for the Panthers’ postseason run, scoring eight goals and 23 points in 23 games en route to his second Cup win.
Tkachuk will represent Team USA again in February at the Olympic Games. He was one of the first six players added to the American roster.
Florida is dealing with several injuries this year as it chases a playoff spot. Captain Aleksander Barkov suffered a torn ACL and MCL during training camp and was given a recovery timeline between seven and nine months, effectively ending his regular season. However, he has skated with his teammates — albeit not in full gear. At this month’s Winter Classic in Miami against the New York Rangers, Barkov skated in a hoodie, track pants and a brace on his right leg.
Defenseman Seth Jones and forward Brad Marchand have also been sidelined with injuries. Marchand hasn’t played since Jan. 6 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, while Jones remains out with an upper-body injury suffered during the Winter Classic.
Entering Monday, the Panthers sit four points behind the Buffalo Sabres, who occupy the second and final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.