Matthew Tkachuk has been battling an injury since the Florida Panthers ' first Stanley Cup, but he is nearing a return after two surgeries in the offseason. After fighting through ailments for most of last season, Tkachuk knew he should take the time to get to 100% this season, and the Panthers' star seems to be on schedule after Paul Maurice's update last week . In an update on Wednesday afternoon, Maurice informed reporters that Tkachuk was already back on the ice.

Even though he is back on the ice, Tkachuk is still “a ways away” from his return from injury, according to Maurice. It makes sense for the organization to take its time, as the jumbled mess that is the Eastern Conference allows Florida some time to spare. Even though there is concern about the Panthers' slow start to

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