Matthew Tkachuk played through a torn adductor and hernia to win the Stanley Cup—now faces surgery decision
Photo byWhen the Florida Panthers clinched their second straight Stanley Cup on June 21 with a commanding 5-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers, few realized just how much pain one of their stars had endured to help bring the championship home.
Matthew Tkachuk revealed after Game 6 that he had played through a torn adductor and a hernia for the entire 2025 postseason. The injury, which dates back to February, didn't stop him from tallying 23 points across 23 games. Now, as the celebrations cool off, Tkachuk faces an uncertain summer—one that may include surgery.
The Panthers star revealed the full extent of his injury after Florida clinched back-to-back championships—his offseason now hinges on a 50-50 call about surgery
Matthew Tkachuk
first sustained the injury during the Four Nations Face-Off on February 17, when he was representing Team USA in a 3-1 win over Canada.
It was the third period of that international showdown when things went wrong. Speaking to reporters after Saturday night's Stanley Cup clincher in Sunrise, Florida, the 27-year-old said, 'I feel good. Definitely way better after a win. Should be all good.'
But the road back wasn't as straightforward. Following the injury, Tkachuk missed the final 25 games of the regular season. At the time, the Panthers only publicly described it as a groin issue.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Here's A List Of Cheapest Steel Suppliers (See The List)
Steel Suppliers | search ads
Search Now
Undo
On March 3, general manager Bill Zito told reporters, 'Matthew's going to be out for an extended period of time. We hope to get him back for the playoffs.'
He returned just in time for the postseason, though his minutes were limited early on. In the first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Tkachuk was kept under 14 minutes of ice time in three of five games as he worked his way back into form.
Despite the physical toll, Tkachuk delivered when it counted most—ending the playoffs with eight goals and 15 assists.
His final goal came in the opening period of the championship-clinching Game 6 against the Oilers.
Still, his offseason remains clouded with uncertainty. Speaking at the Panthers' post-game media availability on Saturday, Tkachuk shared,
'
It's 50-50 right now if I'll need surgery
,'
adding that he has more tests scheduled before a final decision is made. The recovery time for adductor surgery typically ranges from six to eight weeks.
Florida Panthers' Stanley Cup repeat: Grit, pain, and legacy
With the Panthers now cementing themselves as a modern-day dynasty—making the Stanley Cup Final three years in a row and winning it in back-to-back seasons—Tkachuk's toughness has become part of the team's larger legacy.
His postseason resilience is a reminder of just how far players push their limits when the Cup is on the line. Whether or not he ends up undergoing surgery, Tkachuk's performance in the 2025 playoffs will be remembered as one of the grittiest of his career.
Also Read:
'Get this shit the f**k off my Screen!': NHL fans rip Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's screen time during Stanley Cup final
Follow all the live updates, scores, and highlights from the
India vs England Test match here
.
Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
32 minutes ago
- Time of India
Rishabh Pant is unique in many ways, let him be: Ex-players after his somersault goes viral
Swashbuckling India batter Rishabh Pant 's perfect somersault after smashing a breathtaking century in the first Test against England has caught the fancy of his legion of fans, while former players felt the acrobatic act that has since gone viral was a statement of his "unique" ways. Pant hit an entertaining 178-ball 134, his seventh Test ton, as India amassed 471 against England under new skipper Shubman Gill on Day 2 of the opening Test here on Saturday. Former India head coach Ravi Shastri said Pant probably had been doing gymnastics from a very young age. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Book 3 & 4 BHK apartments from 4.65 Cr* in Sec 22, Gurugram Ambience Creacions, Gurugram Learn More Undo "Nothing wrong in that. That's him. Let him be. You know, he's different. At a very young age, he did a lot of gymnastics," said the cricketer-turned-commentator. "Even if I might have tried it, I think I might have... (but) it would have been to go into the pool," Shastri joked in a video posted by BCCI. Live Events Pant was involved in a horrific car accident in 2022, which left him grievously injured and his return to professional cricket is one of the most heartwarming stories in sport. To perform a somersault like that after undergoing several surgeries is indeed awe-inspiring. "Rishabh being Rishabh, he does something unique. He does it really well. I think it was unique. No one expected him to do that. I've never tried it. I'll need a lot of practice because that is something if you haven't tried, you can't do it," said India batter Cheteshwar Pujara. Former India cricketer Dinesh Karthik said he was in awe of Pant, as the wicketkeeper-batter was made of a different stuff. "Neither could I do the somersault like him, nor can I bat like him. I think on both fronts (keeping and batting) he has exceeded expectations. It's quite an effort to do that, actually. And he does it consistently," said Karthik, himself a wicketkeeper-batter. "When I was very young, my parents did make me participate in gymnastics and I did try and I was an utter failure at that. So, let's just leave it there because he (Pant) is doing it so much nicer when he celebrates it," added Karthik. "I think I've never seen anything like that in my life. With pads on as well. Amazing," said an English fan.
Time of India
32 minutes ago
- Time of India
Gold Cup: Honduras beat El Salvador 2-0, keep Group B wide open
Romell Quioto and Dixon Ramirez powered Honduras to a crucial 2-0 victory over El Salvador in CONCACAF Gold Cup action on Saturday night in Houston. The result, combined with Curacao's 1-1 draw against Canada earlier in the day, tightened the Group B standings with one round of matches left before the knockout stage. Quioto struck first in the 33rd minute, finishing off a slick give-and-go with Edwin Rodriguez for Honduras' first goal of the tournament after losing to Canada 0-6 in the opener. Ramirez sealed the win in stoppage time, capitalizing on a counterattack and scoring into an open net. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like War Thunder - Register now for free and play against over 75 Million real Players War Thunder Play Now Undo — GoldCup (@GoldCup) As El Salvador pushed forward in search of an equalizer, Yustin Arboleda headed away a cross from deep inside the Honduras box, directing it to Ramirez. Live Events Ramirez sprinted the length of the field on the counter, beating goalkeeper Mario Gonzalez - who had advanced to midfield - and calmly slotted the ball into an empty net in the fifth minute of stoppage time. — GoldCup (@GoldCup) The win puts Honduras (1-1-0) on three points, just one behind group leaders Canada. Curacao has two points from two draws, while El Salvador (0-1-1) remains on one. With all four teams still in contention for a knockout round spot, the final group games slated for Tuesday - Canada vs El Salvador and Honduras vs Curacao - will be decisive.
Time of India
42 minutes ago
- Time of India
IND vs ENG: 'What is the tone?' - Gautam Gambhir slammed after Rishabh Pant's 'brainfade' dismissal
India's Rishabh Pant (AP Photo/Scott Heppell) Rishabh Pant scored a remarkable century at Headingley in the first Test against England on Saturday, surpassing MS Dhoni's record for most centuries by an Indian wicketkeeper-batter. The 27-year-old's innings of 134 ended when he was dismissed by Josh Tongue , leading to criticism from commentator Dinesh Karthik regarding head coach Gautam Gambhir 's possible intervention that may have affected Pant's natural gameplay. Pant celebrated his milestone with a somersault celebration that entertained the packed crowd at Leeds. His century contributed to India's total of 471, where he joined Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill as century-makers for the visitors in the innings. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! The dismissal occurred in the 108th over when Tongue delivered an inswinging delivery that Pant left alone, resulting in the ball hitting his pad near the knee roll. Replays confirmed the ball would have hit middle and leg stump. Dinesh Karthik, commentating for Sky Sports, observed a change in Pant's approach following a possible message from the coaching staff. "Also very interesting, when a message was sent out to Rishabh Pant, it curbed his style of play. He was just very carefree with his stroke making, and yet the feeling that a message was sent to tell him to calm down doesn't work for certain players, I guess," Karthik said on air. India lose momentum on Day 2 | England Fight Back at Headingley Karthik emphasized the importance of communication methods between coaches and players. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trending in in 2025: Local network access control [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo "As a coach, it's completely understandable when you want to get a message across to the batter. But over time, you realise, for certain players, how you send that message becomes very important, what is the tone, what is the language used that gets the best out of the batter," he stated. The former India wicketkeeper-batter suggested a different approach might be necessary for Pant. "Maybe with Rishabh Pant, it needs to be a different way in which you get things done," Karthik commented. Quiz: Who's that IPL player? India's innings experienced a collapse in the first session of Day 2, losing four wickets in the final thirty minutes. Shubman Gill (147), Karun Nair (0), Rishabh Pant (134), and Shardul Thakur (1) were dismissed during this period. The Indian team's final seven wickets fell for just 41 runs, with Josh Tongue and Ben Stokes claiming four wickets each for England. The match began with England captain Stokes winning the toss and choosing to bowl first at Headingley. The innings featured three centurions from India - Jaiswal, Gill, and Pant - who helped the team reach a substantial total despite the late collapse. Their contributions formed the backbone of India's first innings score of 471. The match situation reflected both India's batting strength through their century-makers and their vulnerability, losing wickets in clusters during the latter part of their innings. England's bowlers, particularly Tongue and Stokes, capitalized on this period to restrict India's total. Follow all the live updates, scores, and highlights from the India vs England Test match here . Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
