Matthew Tkachuk will miss the start of the 2025-26 season after offseason surgery, landing on LTIR with a return timeline around January. Florida Panthers answer by adding Luke Kunin on a one-year, $775,000 deal to inject bite, leadership, and depth up front. Panthers also retain Ekblad, Bennett, and Marchand as core anchors to weather an early absence. The broader notes touch on the World Cup of Hockey in 2028 and IIHF’s reduced role, shaping future rosters for fantasy and betting alike.