# Matthew Tkachuk injury update: Panthers star out for 'extended period'



By Mike Brehm  
USA TODAY  
Published 3:16 p.m. ET March 3, 2025

The 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:

* **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.

* **What did Matthew Tkachuk miss?**
  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.

* **What did Matthew Tkachuk do?**
  Tkachuk went on "The Tonight Show" last week and told host Jimmy Fallon that he was "feeing better, just recovering right now."

* **When did Matthew Tkachuk go on LTIR?**
  Tkachuk 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.

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