MIAMI — Florida Panthers Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk were on skates together, on the ice on Thursday ahead of Friday’s Winter Classic game.
Just don’t go too far with what that might mean for this immediate Panthers stretch.
Barkov, who has missed all season with a knee injury, skated a little before the practice in pants and the Panthers’ Winter Classic jersey. He had a brace on his right knee. He then was in the team picture on the ice at loanDepot park before sitting on the bench for practice. He’s months from playing again, but that’s not the idea here.
“He’s been working so hard just to get back to the ice,” defenseman Gustav Forsling said. “And it’s amazing how quickly he’s on the ice now.”
Tkachuk also has missed all season with a torn abductor muscle and sports hernia. He quickly changed out the Winter Classic uniform after the team picture for a yellow jersey worn by players who could have no contact. He began practicing in the yellow jersey on Sunday with the idea he’s close to joining the team.
“Everyone knows where he’s at, but he won’t play (Friday),” coach Paul Maurice said.
Jonah Gadjovich, who is out for months injured, watched Thursday’s practice. He and defenseman Dmitri Kulikov are expected back at some point after the Winter Olympics break in February.
“We got one of the best push-up teams in the league,” Maurice said. “I know because every day I talk out of the coach’s office before a game and I get all these guys doing pushups. Man, we got to get them back to the hockey team. We need to get them out of the gym.
“It’s just nice for the players to see — I mean, Matthew is moving up there. That’s a big boost to us. In practice, there’s way more chirping, way more talking. To see him being on the ice … it’s just normal. And it’s like Sunday walk. He’s just moving around the ice, but it’s nice for him to be a part of it.”
The Panthers play the New York Rangers in the Winter Classic on Friday night. After a game against Colorado on Sunday in Sunrise, they head onto the road for six games.