I downgraded to the jaunty packages below and the tray icon is back, so I don't think it's a problem in gnome-panel.
xchat_2.8.6-2.1ubuntu4_amd64.deb xchat-common_2.8.6-2.1ubuntu4_all.deb
I downgraded to the jaunty packages below and the tray icon is back, so I don't think it's a problem in gnome-panel.
xchat_2. 8.6-2.1ubuntu4_ amd64.deb 2.8.6-2. 1ubuntu4_ all.deb
xchat-common_