Matthew Tkachuk injury update: Panthers HC Paul Maurice offers hopeful news on superstar's return on ice

Florida Panthers coach Paul Maurice shared a positive update on Matthew Tkachuk’s recovery. Tkachuk has been on non-roster injured reserve since early October. The Panthers do not expect him to return until December.

Now, in a fresh update, Maurice said Tkachuk may return to on-ice work within the next two weeks.

"I think we're looking for him to hit the ice in the next two weeks." Maurice said. [7:48 minutes]

Tkachuk has dealt with a difficult injury history over the past year. He tore his adductor muscle and suffered a sports hernia during the 4 Nations Face-Off in February. He played only 52 regular-season games last season. He later returned for the playoffs and helped Florida win a second straight Stanley Cup. He finished the postseason with 23 points in 23 games.

However, over a month into the season, Tkachuk is not close to playing yet.

"So, Matthew is hasn't hit the threshold that he's going to be back on the ice," Maurice said. "So, I would say with all of them (injured players), I'll give you a better idea once the first day they hit the ice because then we have a fairly good idea what the window is."

Maurice said injured players must let the injury heal before doing more. He added that both Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov are on schedule.

"I guess they're where they're supposed to be," Maurice said. "And so for both of these... there's this block of healing time where there's not much they're doing. So they're moving, right? They're in the gym. They're doing the basic stuff. And then kind of when the doctor gets to that day, he says, "Okay, now you can go. Now you can start progressing."

For now Brad Marchand will continue playing in a top-six role while Tkachuk recovers.

Paul Maurice praised Brad Marchand after Panthers's win

Florida coach Paul Maurice praised Brad Marchand after the Panthers’ 3-2 win over Vegas Golden Knights. Marchand scored Florida’s second goal and extended both his goal streak and point streak.

"He’s special and tight. His hands are so quick," Maurice said, via NHL. "It would be the thing about Brad that you know. He’s a good player ... but you get on the ice in practice and see those goals, it’s just exceptional."

Jesper Boqvist opened the scoring at 14:47 of the first period, and Marchand made it 2-0 for the Panthers in the second. Tomas Hertl cut the lead to 2-1 early in the third, but Sam Reinhart restored the two-goal lead. Ivan Barbashev brought Vegas back to 3-2, but Vegas lost.

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Edited by Ankit Kumar