Matthew Tkachuk practices with Panthers for 1st time this season, indicating game return is near
No. To see you. materials President, you completely serious about peace this time? I do. I think he is. I think they both are. What was I told him what was your. Gotta make *** deal. Got to get it done. Too many people dying. And I think both presidents want to make *** deal. I’m gonna. We need Putin against you. It depends. It depends. I do believe that uh we have the makings of *** deal that’s good for Ukraine, good for everybody, and it’s very important. There’s nothing more important than my book. We settled 8 wars and this is the most difficult one. I thought it would be in the middle of the pack. This is the most difficult one, but we’re gonna get it done. We’re gonna have *** great meeting today. This gentleman has, uh, worked very hard and he’s very brave and his people are very brave. I mean, what, what they’ve gone through, no nation, very rarely has *** nation ever had to go through this. So, uh, we’re gonna have *** very good meeting today, I think, and I’m also calling President Putin back after the meeting and we’ll Continue *** negotiation. Pretty complex but not that complex. New Year’s Day. I don’t have deadlines. I have to, you know what my deadline is getting the war ended. We don’t have deadlines. Are you prepared to sign *** security agreement for today? Well, it depends what the security agreement says. What *** dumb question. Nobody even knows what the security agreement is going to say, but there will be *** security agreement. It’ll be *** strong agreement. And the, the European nations are very much involved in that. They’ll be very much involved in uh protection, etc. But the European nations have been really great. They’re very much in line with this meeting and getting *** deal done. They, they are all, they’re terrific people. I think you can say that. There’s no, nobody there. They all want to get it done and they’ve been very supportive, I think. Biggest controversy, right? Uh thank you for, for this video. Yes, really, I, I agree with. We, we, our teams, they do what they can, and I think that during last month they moved forward with negotiations and, and the Americans takeover. and they worked very well and they worked on different documents. I hope that all these documents can bring this as quick as possible. So, and uh I feel with the president that the president is in contact with them and. What made you want to come in person to be president today? I’m sorry, what made you want to come here to Mar *** Lago to be president? What, what why so we have, uh, we spoke about our teams. They worked on 20 points, then they worked on, uh, prosperity and security and 20 points plan is very important. We have to discuss and sequencing very important our teams talked about strategy, how to. step by step and we will discuss this. So, are you gonna make? Session. We speak about 20 points in 20 points, 90% by the way was done by our two teams. I think they did *** great job, great work, and yes, we will discuss these points. And there are great economic benefits for Ukraine also because there’s *** lot of rebuilding to do. There’s *** lot of wealth to be had, and they have great wealth potentially they have great wealth. They want to get. Started, but there’s *** great economic benefit for Ukraine in what we’re talking about President Trump. Some are saying that the recent attacks in the past couple of days that Russia has staged against Ukraine shows that President Putin isn’t serious about peace. What is your reaction to that? No, he’s very serious. I think I can say that I believe Ukraine has made some very strong attacks also, and I don’t say that negatively. I think you probably have to. I don’t say that negatively. I think he hasn’t told me that, but there have been some explosions in various parts of Russia, and it looks to me like, I don’t know. I don’t think it came from the Congo. I don’t think it came from the United States of America. It possibly came from Ukraine, but I haven’t asked that question. Maybe I won’t bother asking. No, they have, they’re fighting *** war and we’ll see what happens, but I believe it’s *** war that. We have two willing parties. We have 2 willing countries. They want to see it end. The people of Ukraine want it to end, and the people of Russia want it to end, and the two leaders want it to end. Ukraine is holding billions in Russian assets. Do you believe that Ukraine to help rebuild or go back to None of that has been determined, but it’ll go. It’s going to go very quickly, I think we’re we’re in the final stages of talking, and we’re going to see. Otherwise it’s going to go on for *** long time. It will either end or it’s going to go on for *** long time. Millions of additional people are going to be killed. Millions, and nobody wants that. Are you frustrated to you when you say that you think it will either end or go on for *** long time and you say you don’t have *** deadline. So what are you expecting out of today? I just think we can do, I think we can move very rapidly. I really feel that we’ve spoken. I know you had dinner with Steve. Steve Witkoff and Jared have done *** fantastic job. And, and everybody has. Marco has been incredible. The whole group has been our group has been incredible, and Ukraine appreciates it and Russia appreciates it. They both want to see it end, and we’re going to get it ended. Thank you very much, everybody. Thank you. Thank you so much. We’ll see you, I think, at the end, but I do think we’ll call Europe also, we’re going to speak to the European leaders. Thank you very much. Very.
Matthew Tkachuk practices with Panthers for 1st time this season, indicating game return is near
Updated: 3:37 PM EST Dec 28, 2025
Matthew Tkachuk played hockey on Sunday, which was a jolt of long-awaited good news for the Florida Panthers.How long it’ll take him to go from the practice rink to the game rink remains unclear.Wearing a yellow non-contact jersey, Tkachuk practiced Sunday for the first time this season and more than four months after he had surgery to repair a sports hernia and torn adductor muscle.Tkachuk has not played since Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final, when the Panthers clinched their second consecutive title by again topping the Edmonton Oilers. He went through the summer trying to rehab — but eventually decided that he needed the surgery knowing it would cost him the first few months of the season.The wait isn’t over. But it’s close.“He looks awesome,” Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe said. “Good to see him back out there. He brought us some energy today, that’s for sure.”Now the waiting game shifts to when Tkachuk will play a game. Florida plays host to Washington on Monday and Montreal on Tuesday, then will be the home team for the NHL Winter Classic at the Miami Marlins’ ballpark against the New York Rangers on Friday.The latest: Sports coverage from WPBF 25 NewsThe Panthers are scheduled to practice at the ballpark on Thursday. Other than morning skates, that will be their next practice. And there’s no guarantee that Tkachuk will play Friday. Florida is not going to rush it just for him to be part of an event.“There’s a whole bunch of things he’s got to get through. The question is, is there enough time,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. “He might be healthy enough or close to enough that he could play, but we’re not guessing on this. … As much as we like the spectacle of it and we’d love for him to be a part of it — it would be great for the game to see him out there — the Florida Panthers need him healthy for the rest of the year.”Get the latest sports updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.After the Panthers won their second straight Stanley Cup in June, Tkachuk revealed that he had sustained the injuries while playing for Team USA in the 4 Nations Face-Off in February. He missed the final 25 games of the regular season but returned for Game 1 of the Panthers’ first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning.Tkachuk had 23 points — eight goals and 15 assists — in 23 playoff games, including seven points in the Stanley Cup Final. He’s expected to address reporters later this week and indicated after the practice Sunday that all went well with the workout.The Panthers have been without a slew of key players all season, including captain Aleksander Barkov. They entered Sunday tied for the second and final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, only five points out of the lead in the Atlantic Division.Florida has gone through this season with the expectation that Tkachuk would be back on a “December-ish” timeline. He has said he wants to play in the Winter Classic, the Panthers’ first outdoor game, and for Team USA at the Milan Cortina Olympics in February.“We will enjoy the talent upgrade,” Maurice said. “He’s a great player. But it’s the personality more. He’s chirping on the ice, right? He’s giving it to guys. They’re laughing. He’s bringing a little joy to everyone. He’s funny on the bench. He has an incredible emotional IQ in terms of the game of hockey. When nothing needs to happen, he doesn’t do anything. When something needs to happen, he figures out the right way.”
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. —
Matthew Tkachuk played hockey on Sunday, which was a jolt of long-awaited good news for the Florida Panthers.
How long it’ll take him to go from the practice rink to the game rink remains unclear.
Wearing a yellow non-contact jersey, Tkachuk practiced Sunday for the first time this season and more than four months after he had surgery to repair a sports hernia and torn adductor muscle.
Tkachuk has not played since Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final, when the Panthers clinched their second consecutive title by again topping the Edmonton Oilers. He went through the summer trying to rehab — but eventually decided that he needed the surgery knowing it would cost him the first few months of the season.
The wait isn’t over. But it’s close.
“He looks awesome,” Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe said. “Good to see him back out there. He brought us some energy today, that’s for sure.”
Now the waiting game shifts to when Tkachuk will play a game. Florida plays host to Washington on Monday and Montreal on Tuesday, then will be the home team for the NHL Winter Classic at the Miami Marlins’ ballpark against the New York Rangers on Friday.
The latest: Sports coverage from WPBF 25 News
Getty ImagesChristian Petersen
SUNRISE, FLORIDA – JUNE 17: Matthew Tkachuk #19 of the Florida Panthers celebrates with the Stanley Cup after defeating the Edmonton Oilers in Game Six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena on June 17, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The Panthers are scheduled to practice at the ballpark on Thursday. Other than morning skates, that will be their next practice. And there’s no guarantee that Tkachuk will play Friday. Florida is not going to rush it just for him to be part of an event.
“There’s a whole bunch of things he’s got to get through. The question is, is there enough time,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. “He might be healthy enough or close to enough that he could play, but we’re not guessing on this. … As much as we like the spectacle of it and we’d love for him to be a part of it — it would be great for the game to see him out there — the Florida Panthers need him healthy for the rest of the year.”
Get the latest sports updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.
After the Panthers won their second straight Stanley Cup in June, Tkachuk revealed that he had sustained the injuries while playing for Team USA in the 4 Nations Face-Off in February. He missed the final 25 games of the regular season but returned for Game 1 of the Panthers’ first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Tkachuk had 23 points — eight goals and 15 assists — in 23 playoff games, including seven points in the Stanley Cup Final. He’s expected to address reporters later this week and indicated after the practice Sunday that all went well with the workout.
The Panthers have been without a slew of key players all season, including captain Aleksander Barkov. They entered Sunday tied for the second and final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, only five points out of the lead in the Atlantic Division.
Florida has gone through this season with the expectation that Tkachuk would be back on a “December-ish” timeline. He has said he wants to play in the Winter Classic, the Panthers’ first outdoor game, and for Team USA at the Milan Cortina Olympics in February.
“We will enjoy the talent upgrade,” Maurice said. “He’s a great player. But it’s the personality more. He’s chirping on the ice, right? He’s giving it to guys. They’re laughing. He’s bringing a little joy to everyone. He’s funny on the bench. He has an incredible emotional IQ in terms of the game of hockey. When nothing needs to happen, he doesn’t do anything. When something needs to happen, he figures out the right way.”