FORT LAUDERDALE — The Panthers will be missing a star when they return to the ice and raise the banner for their second straight Stanley Cup championship.

Superstar winger Matthew Tkachuk is recovering from offseason surgery that repaired the torn hip adductor and sports hernia that he suffered last year, Panthers general manager Bill Zito said at the team’s preseason media day on Wednesday.

“His timeline is longer-term,” Zito said. “We’ll evaluate along the way to try to get a little better understanding. As we get closer, I think we’d be able to say with more certainty when (his return) would be, but it’s going to be months, for sure.”

Zito said Tkachuk could return around December, but that is not assured.

“(I) kind of made a joke with that: If you’re driving across the country

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