Matthew Tkachuk provides a positive update on his upcoming return

Tkachuk said he's got a rough target for coming back, but he'll skate at least one more time in the non-contact sweater. He also said he'll travel on Florida's upcoming trip.

You can feel how much he's been missed in the Panthers' identity game. Without him, the forecheck loses its loudest bully, and the power play loses a net-front magnet.

Florida has survived on structure and goaltending, but the lineup still looks different without No. 19 dragging defenders into bad decisions. Games get quieter when he isn't poking the bear.

As a fan, I miss the way Matthew Tkachuk makes a routine shift feel like a personal argument. His edge spreads to linemates, and it forces opponents to answer back.

Before the injury, he put up 57 points in 52 games last season, that's 22 goals and 35 assists. The year before that, he posted 88 points in 80 games while wearing an A.

He's 28 now, drafted sixth overall in 2016 by Calgary, and he carries a $9.5 million cap hit in Sunrise. Stars with that ticket don't just score, they tilt matchups and moods.

In his absence, Florida has asked Sam Reinhart and Brad Marchand to be the emotional sparks, but neither plays quite that greasy net-front game. That's why every practice clip feels like news.

Those numbers matter because Florida's best version plays downhill, and Tkachuk is the guy who parks in the paint and wins second chances. He draws chaos, then finds the quiet pass.

Maurice can shelter his minutes when he returns, but the Panthers will still need his puck battles on the wall and his touch in tight. The first shift back will tell you everything.

Being on the road trip starting Tuesday in Toronto is a good sign, even if the yellow jersey means he's still not cleared for contact. The next milestone is simple, full practice, then a game.