Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk is finally back in regular practice jersey

Tkachuk practiced Tuesday in a non-contact jersey, and Maurice made it clear the green light is not here yet. He said they are «not in full heavy contact» and the next step is getting leaned on, then seeing how he recovers.

That detail matters because contact is where everything gets honest again, especially for a power forward. Florida has waited this long, so rushing the final boxes would be a self-inflicted wound.

It also lands at the exact moment the Panthers need help just to get through their schedule. The team is already juggling injuries, including Seth Jones going week to week, so every healthy body changes the math.

You can see the effect in practice, too, because the room feels different when a star is around the group. Even in a yellow sweater, Tkachuk brings noise, chirps, and that edge that keeps drills competitive.

As a fan, I don't need a perfect lineup, I just want the bench to look alive again.

If Tkachuk comes back soon, the Panthers get more than scoring, they get their identity back. He changes forechecks, drags defenders into bad spots, and turns power plays into net-front chaos.

It is easy to forget how productive he was when he played through pain last season. In 52 games, he put up 22 goals and 57 points, and he still finished with 84 hits.

He is also only 28, signed long-term, and Florida pays him like a franchise piece for a reason. His $9.5 million cap hit runs through 2029-30, so the goal is return strong, not return rushed.

Maurice's timeline sounds simple even if the work is not, absorb contact, recover, then repeat until it holds. If that goes well, the Panthers head into this road stretch with belief, not just bodies.