Matthew Tkachuk reveals unsettling details of off the bone injury he played through during Stanley Cup Finals
Photo credit: NHL.com
Matthew Tkachuk's appreciation for winning the Stanley Cup once again appears bigger than anyone's, despite playing through a brutal injury that was just revealed.
Tkachuk made sure he was present throughout each and every series for the Florida Panthers, despite an off-the bone injury.
During the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament in February, while playing for Team USA, Tkachuk revealed that he sustained a torn adductor muscle, and a sports hernia injury on the same exact side as his tear.
He revealed his adductor was torn off of the bone.
«I wouldn't be here without the trainers and the doctors and those people, and that's what makes this Cup more special for me is how hard it was just to be out there and to get to the point of playing," Tkachuk said. "I owe those guys. This Cup is because of them for me, and I'm so lucky.»
Up until just days before the 2025 playoffs began, Tkachuk was not sure if he'd be able to play in Game one of round one.
This wear and tear of three straight Stanley Cup Final appearances have certainly taken a toll on Tkachuk, who will definitely have a few years shaved off of his NHL career over the dramatic injuries he's suffered throughout the past two years.
Last season, he was unable to get out of his bed on his own throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and needed the help of his brother Brady in the mornings.
«He was a mess,» Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. «That's the medical term. He was a mess.»
He ended up pushing through the gruesome injuries, playing all 23 postseason games and ended up typing Sam Reinhart and Carter Verharghe's point total with 23 (eight goals, 15 assists for Tkachuk).
«Matthew's played with some injuries,» Maurice said. «We weren't hopeful at the start that he would survive the first round. Just didn't think he could do it.
But what he does so well is he's so smart. He managed himself around the ice and around the game that he could still produce, but he wasn't taking hits and he wasn't giving hits. He was in open ice.
«Then he just kind of slowly built that and slowly got a little more ... the closer we got toward the end of the final, it didn't matter.
Tears it off the bone again, fine, come back in January. Just would help the team win. And his last four games for me were the four best games he's played for the Florida Panthers.»
But what he does so well is he's so smart. He managed himself around the ice and around the game that he could still produce, but he wasn't taking hits and he wasn't giving hits. He was in open ice.
«Then he just kind of slowly built that and slowly got a little more ... the closer we got toward the end of the final, it didn't matter.
Tears it off the bone again, fine, come back in January. Just would help the team win. And his last four games for me were the four best games he's played for the Florida Panthers.»
In the end, Tkachuk is beyond thankful for the surprising trade that sent him to the Florida Panthers, which ultimately changed things for good.
«Coming down here to Florida changed my life forever,» Tkachuk said. «Three finals, two championships, this is more than why you play the game. This is what makes it all worth it and it's so special. I just have so many people to thank.»
Starting with the Panthers medical staff.
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JUIN 18 | 519 ANSWERS Matthew Tkachuk reveals unsettling details of off the bone injury he played through during Stanley Cup Finals Do you think Matthew Tkachuk is the perfect example of hockey players being the toughest out of any sport? | ||
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