Panthers teammates react to seeing Matthew Tkachuk in regular practice jersey
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Jonathan Ouimet
Jan 6, 2026 (2:39 PM)
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Photo credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Matthew Tkachuk is out of the no-contact, and the Florida Panthers bench is already louder.
It's not full speed to game action yet, but seeing Tkachuk in a regular practice jersey changes the vibe immediately. The drills get sharper, the chirps get quicker, and everyone's shoulders sit a little higher.
Paul Maurice also made sure nobody runs ahead of the facts, because this part is all about response and recovery. The next box is simple to say and hard to fake, he needs to get leaned on, then bounce back clean.
Matthew Tkachuk lifts Florida Panthers intangibles
Brad Marchand nailed the first layer of it with a line that sounds like a warning and a compliment at the same time.
"It just means you've got to keep your head up. He's going to be looking for a hit in practice."
Marchand kept going, and you could almost hear the grin through the words.
"It's been a little while for him. I think he's itching. It's fun having him out there. He's so energetic and mouthy out there."
Sam Bennett hit the teammate angle, the one that matters on long trips and tired legs.
"It's great to see him buzzing around out there and getting involved. We're really looking forward to having him back soon."
Bennett also slipped in the best part, because the Panthers are not turning practice into a demolition derby just to prove a point.
"Not too hard yet," he smiled. "We'll let him get comfortable."
Florida's challenge is threading the needle, keep the bite without crossing the line, push the tempo without risking a setback. If Tkachuk keeps clearing each step, fans will notice it in the details, the swagger, the noise, and how the Panthers carry themselves on the road.
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