Matthew Tkachuk will be out for “an extended period of time” for the Florida Panthers with a lower-body injury, general manager Bill Zito said Monday.

“We hope to get him back for the playoffs,” Zito said.

Tkachuk was injured while playing for the United States at the 4 Nations Face-Off last month. After sitting out the final 12:36 of the third period against Canada on Feb. 15, he did not play against Sweden on Feb. 17. Tkachuk was in the starting lineup for the championship game against Canada on Thursday but was limited to 6:47 of ice time and did not play in the third period or overtime of a 3-2 loss to Canada.

The forward has 57 points (22 goals, 35 assists) in 52 games for the defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers (37-21-3), who are second in the Atlantic Division, one point behind the Toronto Maple Leafs.

With Tkachuk going on long-term injured reserve, the Panthers can save space under the NHL salary cap.

Florida acquired Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Seth Jones in a trade on Saturday. He is expected to make his Panthers debut against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday (7 p.m. ET; FDSNSUN, SCRIPPS). Jones had 27 points (seven goals, 20 assists) in 42 games while averaging a team-high 24:30 of ice time.