After acquiring Seth Jones, the Florida Panthers have made another major move ahead of the 2025 trade deadline. The team has placed Matthew Tkachuk on long-term injured reserve (LTIR), dealing a significant blow to their lineup as they push toward the postseason.

With this move, the Panthers now have $8.7 million in cap space, with 21 of 23 players active. The addition of $2.5 million from the Seth Jones deal further increases their financial flexibility. A 2026 draft pick was already sent to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Jones.

AHL goaltender Chris Driedger was also in discussions with the Panthers, who recalled him after trading Spencer Knight on Saturday. Driedger, who holds a 10-6-4 record with the Charlotte Checkers this season, will now serve as the backup to Sergei Bobrovsky (#72) in Tkachuk’s absence.

Knight’s departure places additional pressure on Bobrovsky and Driedger to maintain the team’s stability in goal. Despite these challenges, the Panthers have won three of their last four games following the 4 Nations tournament, though Tkachuk’s absence looms large.

What happened to Matthew Tkachuk?

Representing Team USA in the 4 Nations Face-Off alongside his brother, Brady Tkachuk, Matthew sustained an injury severe enough to warrant LTIR placement. The left-winger has now missed four games since the tournament and is expected to remain sidelined until approximately March 20, 2025.

Tkachuk was scheduled to receive a second opinion on his injury last week, but his current condition guarantees his absence for at least a month. According to ESPN’s Emily Kaplan, the move to LTIR confirms the seriousness of his injury: “Matthew Tkachuk was still getting second opinions last week, but this move shows how serious his injury is. This could give them the ability to add yet again before Friday’s deadline.”

With 57 points (22 goals, 35 assists) in 52 games this season, Tkachuk’s absence creates a major void in the Panthers’ offensive attack. While Bobrovsky and Driedger handle goaltending duties, forwards Evan Rodrigues and Mackie Samoskevich have been stepping up in Tkachuk’s absence.

The 2023 NHL All-Star Game MVP remains on reserve with no definitive return timeline. However, he has remained vocal about his support for Team USA during the tournament. Speaking on the New Heights podcast with Jason and Travis Kelce after Team USA’s 3-2 loss to Canada, Matthew Tkachuk shared, “I think that, USA, that team was such a proud group of Americans and wanted to show how united we were and how proud we were to be Americans.” 

With Tkachuk out, the Panthers face a tough setback but also gain a unique trade opportunity before the 2025 Trade Deadline. His LTIR placement frees up crucial cap space, positioning Florida to aggressively pursue a trade that could strengthen their playoff push.

Whether they seek a replacement for Spencer Knight or bolster their forward depth, their financial flexibility now allows for a major move. The upcoming deadline will determine whether the Panthers capitalize on this unexpected opportunity.