Update on Matthew Tkachuk as training camp approaches. And Panthers rookie showcase info

When the Florida Panthers take the ice next week to begin training camp, they are expected to have one of their top players with them.

Florida All-Star winger Matthew Tkachuk, who sustained a fractured sternum in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights in June, said earlier this week that he will be a full participant in training camp, which starts Sept. 21.

“I am feeling great,” Tkachuk said Tuesday, according to NHL.com. “It’s been a very short summer, the way I want it to be every year going forward. The worst timing for the injury, obviously, Stanley Cup Final, but in a weird way I had time after where I wasn’t missing X amount of months of game action, so I had the summer to get ready. I definitely improved on some things. The injury allowed me to work on some parts of fitness and conditioning and that is in the best form right now possible, and I just improved on some strength, which was my goal.”

Tkachuk, acquired by the Panthers in the blockbuster trade of last offseason that sent star forward Jonathan Huberdeau and defenseman MacKenzie Weegar to the Calgary Flames, was a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy (NHL’s most valuable player award) after racking up a career-high 109 points last season (sixth in NHL) on 40 goals and 69 assists. This included 36 points and 14 goals on the power play.

He was also tied for third in the NHL with 24 points (11 goals, 13 assists) in the playoffs, including the game-tying goal late in the third period of Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final, the same game in which he sustained the fractured sternum. Four of his 11 goals were game-winning goals, including three scored in overtime.

But his role became limited in Florida’s push for its first Stanley Cup after taking big open-ice hit from Vegas forward Keegan Kolesar in the first period. Tkachuk stayed on the ice for the ensuing power play but did not return to the ice again until midway in the third period.

Tkachuk was cleared to play in Game 4 but was not in uniform for Game 5, when the Panthers were eliminated.

“I think I realized I was in the most pain when we won that Game 3,” Tkachuk said in the interview with NHL.com. “I missed a big portion of it, came back and we won it in overtime. After the game, I’m walking around and normally you have the high spirits after a win, especially in the playoffs. It doesn’t matter what you’re going through, you’re on top of the world. And I was pumped, but I still knew that half of my body felt like it was [in pain]. I knew something wasn’t right.

“I didn’t know what it was at the time. We did all my tests the next day, then I came back and basically with doctor’s orders was given the opportunity to do everything I could to play just one game. [I] did it. I would have done it all over again if I had the chance.”

While Tkachuk’s expected participation in training camp is good news, the Panthers are still expected to be without top defensemen Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour for all of training camp and at least the start of the regular season, which begins Oct. 12.

Rookie showcase info

The Panthers will be one of four teams taking part in the 2023 Southeast Rookie Showcase at Hertz Arena in Estero, home of the Panthers’ ECHL affiliate Florida Everblades.

The showcase runs Friday through Monday, with the Panthers playing three games over the four days.

Florida will have 25 prospects on its roster, headlined by 2021 first-round pick Mackie Samoskevich.

Other notable Panthers prospects set to participate include forward Justin Sourdif, defensemen Mike Benning and Evan Nause, and goaltender Mack Guzda.

The Panthers will play the Carolina Hurricanes at 7 p.m. Friday, Nashville Predators at 6 p.m. Saturday and Tampa Bay Lightning at 1 p.m. Monday.

The showcase is open and free to the public.