Reinforcements on the way as several injured Florida Panthers hit the ice

At practice, Tkachuk was still in the yellow no-contact jersey, while Cole Schwindt was in a regular sweater and Jonah Gadjovich skated no-contact, per Jameson Olive's updates. That mix of statuses tells you Florida is getting closer, but not there yet.

The Tkachuk piece is the headliner because his game tilts ice. He's 28, carries a $9.5 million cap hit, and when he's available he changes matchups and emotions in the building.

Last season, he put up 57 points in 52 games, and that's the kind of production Florida has been patching together by committee.

Travel is where those missing inches show up. Lines get stuck, last change disappears, and you need guys who can win a shift without perfect conditions, especially when legs get heavy late.

You can feel the fan base circling every update because Florida's identity is pressure, and Tkachuk is pressure with teeth. Even in a no-contact jersey, he pulls defenders down low and opens space for quick slot looks.

For the fourth line, Gadjovich being back on the ice at all is a real step. He went down Oct. 25, and earlier reporting had him needing surgery and missing about three months, so this is meaningful progress.

These practice notes were shared via Jameson Olive's feed.

Schwindt's situation is sneaky important too, because he had two goals in 10 games before the broken arm, and Florida needs those cheap minutes to survive long stretches away from home.

If even one of these guys turns from «skating» into «available,» it helps the forecheck, the net-front battle, and the bench rotation on a grind. The next milestone is simple, turning progress jerseys into lineup cards.