Matthew Tkachuk is currently out injured, and after pictures surfaced of him on St. Patrick's Day, some Panthers fans have grown concerned.
The Florida Panthers have been without Matthew Tkachuk since the 4 Nations Face-Off, and with less than a month to go in the regular season, they're hoping to get him back before the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Those fans that are eagerly awaiting his return are more likely than not hoping that he's in the gym preparing for a return. Recently, however, photos emerged on social media of him partying on St. Patrick's Day.
While that's not always a bad thing, some fans have become concerned that he's not focused completely on a return. While he did the same thing a year ago at this time, many have called for him to read the room and not be doing this type of thing while he's on the shelf.
After Aaron Ekblad's suspension, however, reports surfaced that the Panthers could get Tkachuk back at some point in the regular season. And while some are concerned about the partying, there's a chance that this could also indicate a return is on the horizon.
In 52 games with the Panthers this season, Tkachuk has tallied 22 goals and 57 points, but unfortunately he's dealt with several injury issues that have kept him sidelined for too long. Fans have criticized his decision to play in the 4 Nations finale given his injury status at the time.
Ultimately, fans can sometimes be way too harsh on players and what they do in their down time, so while Tkachuk partying it up may not be a great look, as long as he's back to 100% in time for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Panthers fans will get behind him as the team look to go back-to-back in 2025.
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Stuart Skinner was pulled out of the Edmonton Oilers' loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday by the NHL's concussion spotters, and he has since voiced his frustration over the decision. Skinner was pulled with less than five minutes left in regulation in a tied game, which put Calvin Pickard in the most difficult position possible. Stuart Skinner voices frustration to NHL for pulling him out of game Winnipeg Jets forward Gabriel Vilardi stumbled backwards softly into Stuart Skinner, a contact that didn't seem forceful enough to cause a serious injury. Vilardi did bump Skinner's head and he fell back into the net, but it didn't seem enough to be concerned about a concussion. Nevertheless, concussion spotters made their decision by their protocol, and forced Skinner out of the net. Skinner was visibly frustrated walking down the tunnel into the locker room, and Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch echoed the same frustrations when he spoke to media following the game. Skinner met with media over the weekend and again said he felt there was no reason to pull him from the game, saying he felt entirely fine the entire time. "I felt totally fine. I was just kind of shook up with the play. Obviously when you get knocked over, you got some adrenaline going so you just want to take a second. I took a second, got back up, totally fine. "When that happens, I have no control over it. It is what it is. It is really tough, it is frustrating for sure. It's five minutes left, you're playing the best team in the league. Potentially going into overtime, and it puts Calvin in a really tough spot." - Stuart Skinner The game ended up going to overtime, and put Calvin Pickard in a tough spot, which did result in a loss. S
The second round of the 2025 NCAA men's basketball tournament concluded on Sunday, and we are now onto the Sweet 16 where No. 1 seeds and the SEC are dominating the field. Here are some of the biggest winners and losers from Sunday's Round of 32 action. Winner: No. 1 seeds keep following the chalk Not only are all four No. 1 seeds on to the Sweet 16, but outside of Florida getting a scare from UConn on Sunday, and Houston getting a tight game from Gonzaga on Saturday, all of the No. 1 seed games through the first two rounds have been more of a formality than a competition. It is not uncommon for at least one No. 1 seed to get knocked out in the Round of 32, but it did not happen this season. They are all moving on. Loser: UConn's three-peat attempt The Huskies carried a 13-game NCAA Tournament winning streak into Sunday's game against No. 1 seed Florida, and deep into the second half looked like they had a chance to continue that and keep chasing their third consecutive national championship. But Florida ended up putting together a late surge to put the game away, 77-75, thanks in large part to some big shots from Walter Clayton Jr. UConn clearly did not have the same juice that it had the past two seasons, but the fact it made it through to the Round 32 and pushed one of the top seeds in the tournament to the brink is a testament to how clutch and good this team is, and difficult it is to beat in crunch time. Winner: The SEC The SEC already made history at the start of the tournament when it put 14 of the 16 teams in the conference into the tournament. Now seven of those teams are moving onto the Sweet 16, setting a new record for most teams in a conference to appear in the Sweet 16. The SEC was widely regarded as the best conference in the country all season, and it has not only proved it during the tournament, it has also validated the selection committee for taking so many teams. Loser: Cinderella runs If you are a fan of the double-digit seed going on an extended Cinderella run deep into the tournament, this is not your year. With Sunday's losses by No. 12 Colorado State and No. 10 New Mexico, we only have one double-digit seed advancing to the Sweet 16 — No. 10 seed Arkansas. It is also really difficult to call a team coached by John Calipari a Cinderella team. Winner: Derik Queen, Maryland Queen, a Baltimore native, stayed close to home to play his college basketball and it could not have been a better story for him and the Maryland Terrapins on Sunday in their 72-71 win over Colorado State. Not only did he finish with a team-high 17 points, but he also hit the game-winning shot at the buzzer. Did he travel? You can debate it. Did he fight through some tough defense to get off a great shot in a huge moment? Absolutely. This tournament has not had a lot of dramatic finishes, but this game delivered.
The Chicago Bears have been very busy this offseason. As Ryan Poles and the front office looks to build a roster that can be a playoff contender, there are still intriguing free agents available on the market. So far this offseason, the Bears have brought in quite a few new pieces. Among the biggest moves were the trades to acquire Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney, as well as the signings of center Drew Dalman, defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo, and defensive tackle Grady Jarrett. With Caleb Williams leading the way and an incredibly bright future ahead of him, Chicago is in a good place. Speaking of the sleeper free agent options who are still on the market, there is on in particular who the Bears are being linked to. Kristopher Knox of Blecher Report has linked Chicago as one of the best fits for free agent linebacker E.J. Speed. "The Chicago Bears should also have some interest in Speed. Chicago's defense struggled against the run in 2024, finishing the year ranked 29th in yards per carry allowed and 28th in rushing yards allowed," Knox wrote. "New Bears linebackers coach Richard Smith held the same position in Indianapolis during both of Speed's campaigns as a full-time starter." Speed is coming off of a successful tenure with the Indianapolis Colts. Over the last two years, he has taken his game to another level. In 2024, the 29-year-old linebacker totaled 142 tackles to go along with an interception and five defended passes in 15 games. Back in 2023, he racked up 102 tackles, a sack, three forced fumbles, and four defended passes. What would it take for the Bears to get him? Spotrac has projected that Speed will get a contract worth around $5.4 million yearly.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have had a roadblock in their pursuit of Aaron Rodgers. The Steelers do not have a starting quarterback for the 2025 season. Sure, they brought back Mason Rudolph, but there is not much confidence that he is a starter at this stage in his career. All the efforts have been focused on Pittsburgh striking a deal with the four-time league MVP Rodgers. The roadblock was allegedly Rodgers's inability to rush to complete a deal. On Friday, it was reported that Rodgers was in Pittsburgh, meeting with Mike Tomlin, Omar Khan and Art Rooney II at the facility. That visit has given Steelers fans hope that a resolution could come sooner rather than later. A deal could happen soon, but Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio exposed who has been holding up Rodgers's deal with the Steelers. According to Florio, Rodgers' agent, David Dunn, carefully weighed his options and controlled the timeline. While Pittsburgh is eager to make it official, it all comes down to when and if Rodgers finally decides to commit. "Some (hand raised) have criticized quarterback Aaron Rodgers for taking his time in picking a new team," Florio wrote. "As one source explains it, however, Rodgers is simply being a good client. Rodgers’ agent, David Dunn, has been encouraging Rodgers to be patient. Patience can become leverage. Leverage can improve offers. As we understand it, the Steelers have had an offer on the table for nearly two weeks. It hasn’t been sweetened, yet. It could be, in theory." While Florio and many others have been harsh about Rodgers's delay in making his decision, new information has shed light on the situation. It has now been revealed that Rodgers is simply trying to be a respectful client, giving his agent the time and space to handle negotiations properly. Instead of rushing the process, Rodgers lets his agent take the lead, ensuring every detail is handled correctly. "Ultimately, Rodgers will do whatever he wants," Florio wrote. "In 2023, for example, he gave up more than $35 million in compensation from the Jets — to the dismay of the firm that gets paid a percentage of what he makes. If Rodgers wants to take the pending offer, he can. If he wants Dunn to counter, Rodgers can make that directive. For now, it’s the Steelers or the Giants. The Vikings are out, for now. And possibly for good. The Steelers are in. And with Rodgers literally in Pittsburgh, the Steelers have the first crack at signing him." Many pundits and fans assumed that the Minnesota Vikings' slight interest in the situation was the reason for the holdup. However, according to Florio's sources, the Vikings are not interested. If true, that is great news for the Steelers and their hopes of landing Rodgers. With Minnesota out of the picture, Pittsburgh now stands out as the most attractive landing spot by far. Steelers willing to take massive risk with Rodgers This should make the decision much easier for Rodgers, who appears to be seriously considering a move to the Steel City. While some have viewed the pursuit of Rodgers as controversial, risky, and expensive, the Steelers see him as the perfect bridge quarterback. They believe he can help them compete for Super Bowls at the highest level while they continue the search for their long-term franchise quarterback. All eyes are now on Rodgers as the process continues. It will be fascinating to see when and if he agrees to a deal with the Steelers and officially begins what could be one of the most intriguing chapters in recent franchise history.
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