PLYMOUTH, Michigan -- Team USA general manager Bill Guerin said he is "planning and expecting" for Matthew Tkachuk to be available for the Olympic team in February.
"If something changes, then we'll do what we have to do," Guerin said Wednesday. "But he's on [the roster] and he's going to be on until he can't."
The Panthers' star forward had surgery this summer to correct a lingering injury and is expected to miss the start of the NHL season, sources confirmed to ESPN. Florida has yet to announce details of Tkachuk's status.
Tkachuk was the only member of Team USA's Four Nations team not to attend this week's Olympic orientation camp in Plymouth, Michigan. Guerin said Tkachuk called him recently to give him an update.
"He told me what was going on, and it wouldn't be great for him