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Matthew Tkachuk has not played a shift since June, yet he somehow remains everywhere in South Florida.
The Florida Panthers forward turned 28 this year and somehow packed a lifetime into it. From a second straight Stanley Cup to a White House appearance, Tkachuk's year did not slow down just because his body forced him off the ice. Injuries delayed his return, but they never dimmed his presence.
Tkachuk remains exactly who fans expect. On the ice, he is loud, relentless, and unapologetically annoying. Off the ice, he is private, measured, and selective. That contrast has always defined him, and this season gave fans a rare look behind the curtain.
In November 2025, Matthew and his younger brother Brady Tkachuk launched the «Wingmen» podcast. It quickly became must-listen content for hockey fans. The show is casual, direct, and refreshingly unfiltered, just two NHL wingers talking injuries, league news, and life. Every Wednesday brings health updates, stories, and moments that feel closer to a locker room conversation than a media hit.
The idea did not come out of nowhere. Back in February, the Tkachuk brothers appeared on the Kelce brothers' «New Heights» podcast. Nine months later, they followed through, partnering with the same production group and delivering exactly what fans hoped for.
Matthew Tkachuk stays present without playing
The summer itself was loaded. Tkachuk celebrated a championship parade, traveled with the Stanley Cup, got married, appeared on the cover of EA Sports NHL 26, played celebrity golf, and visited the White House. During that visit, his speech stood out enough that he was later named to a national sports, fitness, and nutrition council alongside Wayne Gretzky and other high-profile athletes.
There was also the heavy part. Tkachuk underwent surgery in August to repair a torn adductor and sports hernia after playing through pain during the playoffs. He is skating individually again and rebuilding strength, but Florida is not rushing him.
He has also leaned fully into South Florida culture, appearing on ESPN College GameDay at the University of Miami and becoming a familiar sports figure beyond hockey.
Now the focus shifts forward. A return later this season remains possible. So does the 2026 Winter Classic and even the Milan Olympics.