Why Matthew Tkachuk isn’t playing tonight for Panthers with potential injury return news

The Florida Panthers have had to be patient.

Matthew Tkachuk has yet to play this season, and the star remains out as the calendar moves on in November.

Tkachuk has averaged nearly a point per game in his NHL career, and more than a point per game since joining the Panthers from the Calgary Flames in 2022.

With Florida, Tkachuk has 88 goals and 166 assists (254 points) in 211 games played.

He also has 303 hits in that span.

The Panthers are still without Tkachuk for now, though.

Why isn't Matthew Tkachuk playing tonight?

Matthew Tkachuk has missed every Panthers game so far this season due to injury.

In mid-September, Panthers general manager Bill Zito revealed that Tkachuk would be out for a few months.

Zito told reporters, via insider George Richards: "Tkachuk should be out until December, but don't hold me to that."

Tkachuk was originally hurt in the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, but he came back in time to make the Cup run.

In the offseason, Tkachuk underwent surgery to repair a sports hernia and a torn abductor.

The Panthers opened their season Oct. 7, so it's been about a month that Tkachuk has been out. If Zito's words are accurate, there's about a month to go for the superstar forward.