FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Matthew Tkachuk is progressing from his offseason surgery and could begin on-ice training in the coming weeks, Florida Panthers coach Paul Maurice said Thursday.

The forward had surgery to repair a torn adductor muscle and sports hernia in August. At the start of training camp, general manager Bill Zito said that the Panthers were hoping Tkachuk could be back as soon as mid-December.

"We're looking for him to hit the ice in the next two weeks," Maurice said of Tkachuk, who was initially injured playing for the United States at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February.

In addition to Tkachuk, Florida is without its captain Aleksander Barkov , who had knee surgery after being injured early in camp and was expected to be out 7-9 months. Forwards Tomas Nosek (knee)

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