Matthew Tkachuk, the prominent star of the Florida Panthers, will appear on the cover of NHL 26, the latest installment of the long-standing video game series by EA Sports. This marks a significant milestone as Tkachuk becomes the first player from the Panthers to grace the primary cover since goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck did so for NHL 97. This announcement comes on the heels of Florida's successful defense of its Stanley Cup title, a pivotal achievement now commemorated in the latest edition of the game.

Throughout the latter half of the regular season, Tkachuk faced challenges due to a lower-body injury, which limited him to 52 games. Despite these setbacks, he managed to contribute significantly to the team with a total of 22 goals and 35 assists, both of which ranked third on the Panthers’ roster. As the postseason approached, his health status remained uncertain. Coach Paul Maurice highlighted the extent of Tkachuk's struggles, stating, 'Matthew's played with some injuries. We weren't hopeful at the start that he would survive the first round. Just didn't think he could do it. But what he does so well is he's so smart.'

In a show of determination, Tkachuk played in all 23 playoff games for the Panthers, despite a severe adductor muscle tear. His impactful performance included three goals and three assists in the final three games of the Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers. In addition to his contributions with the Panthers, Tkachuk served as an alternate captain for the United States at the 4 Nations Face-Off, where the U.S. advanced past the round-robin stage before narrowly losing to Canada in overtime, 3-2. Looking ahead, should the Arizona native require surgery to fully address his adductor injury, he could face an uncertain start to the 2025-26 season. However, the potential sacrifice might be deemed worthwhile in pursuit of a second Stanley Cup championship.