After acquiring Chicago Blackhawks defender Seth Jones, the Florida Panthers made a critical announcement on Matthew Tkachuk’s season.

© Derek Cain/Getty Images Matthew Tkachuk #19 of the Florida Panthers walks to the dressing room prior to their NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena on December 12, 2024 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

The Florida Panthers did it again. General Manager Bill Zito has accustomed fans in Sunrise to bold moves, and it certainly paid off for the Cats, so Zito’s earned the benefit of the doubt. After bringing Seth Jones from the Chicago Blackhawks to South Florida, the Panthers announced a critical decision about Matthew Tkachuk’s injury.

The Panthers traded away a first round selection and beloved goalie Spencer Knight for one of the most scrutinized defenders in the NHL, in a move that is set to define their season.

As the Panthers push for a Stanley Cup repeat, Zito went all in, selling a share of their future for one blueliner set to make an immediate impact. Jones aims to address the biggest weakness in the lineup: the lack of depth on the defensive side, especially for a right-handed blueliner. Now, the Panthers managed to acquire a talented defender, while getting Chicago to retain 22% of his salary. However, cap space was still limited for the Cats.

Thus, Florida confirmed their final decision on Tkachuk’s season, who was injured in the 4 Nations, and hasn’t been able to return to the ice yet.

Matthew Tkachuk #19 of the Florida Panthers stands during the national anthem before the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG PAINTS Arena on January 26, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Shortly after confirming Jones’ arrival in Sunrise, the Panthers put Matthew Tkachuk on long-term injured reserve (LTIR).This decision likely means Tkachuk won’t return during the regular season, but he should be back for the Stanley Cup Playoffs if the Panthers clinch a spot.

Financial implications

Moreover, by placing their star player on LTIR, the Panthers open up considerable cap space. After trading away their backup goaltender, it seems reasonable to expect that Zito, Paul Maurice, and the Cats will target this area next, ahead of the trade deadline on March 7.

Florida now has $8.7M in cap space remaining after assigning Tkachuk to LTIR. Shortly after, the Panthers recalled goalie Chris Driedger from their AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers. However, his performance has been underwhelming, and a new netminder could be joining the organization soon.

Matthew Tkachuk #19 of the Florida Panthers looks on against the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on February 04, 2025 in Washington, DC.

The money-saving move on Tkachuk could come in handy if the star player doesn’t return for the regular season, meaning Florida could bring in an expensive rental for the Playoffs, in hopes of winning back-to-back Stanley Cups.