Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk will be sidelined for 6-8 weeks following surgery on his right thumb. The team announced the news on Thursday, confirming the worst fears after Tkachuk sustained the injury during Monday's 4-1 loss to the Nashville Predators.
The incident occurred early in the game when Tkachuk was cross-checked into the boards by Predators defenseman Roman Josi. Despite the initial impact, the 26-year-old winger remained in the game, but ultimately left with roughly nine minutes remaining in the third period.
Senators owner Michael Andlauer sought a second medical opinion in New York on Wednesday to determine the necessity of surgery. The decision to proceed with the surgery was made subsequently.
"We are going to miss him," said Senators coach Travis Green on Wednesday. "You don't replace guys like that, but we've always had the mindset of next man up. It's another opportunity. Teams are going to have injuries, that's part of the NHL". Green had previously stated on Tuesday that Tkachuk would be out for at least four weeks, with the possibility of a longer absence depending on the assessment.
Tkachuk's absence is a significant blow to the Senators. In three games this season, he has recorded three assists. Last season, Tkachuk led the team with 29 goals and totaled 55 points in 72 games, playing a key role in the Senators' playoff qualification for the first time since 2016-17. Selected fourth overall by Ottawa in the 2018 NHL Draft, Tkachuk has accumulated 191 goals and 216 assists for 407 points in 515 regular-season games.
Forward David Perron acknowledged Tkachuk's importance to the team, stating, "He's a big part of our team and it's tough to lose him, but it's got to be a little of a next-man-up mentality right now,". "We can't worry about who's playing and who's not. We've got to just go out there and get the job done". Michael Amadio echoed this sentiment, adding, "Obviously, you never want to see a guy get hurt, especially a captain, so it's time for some guys to step up,". "... It's not one guy, it's everyone kind of coming together to fill that role".
With Tkachuk sidelined, the Senators will need other players to step up and fill the void. The team is currently 1-3-0 after losing 8-4 to the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday.
The timeline for Tkachuk's return places him back in the lineup in late November or early December. This ensures his availability well in advance of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, where he and his brother Matthew Tkachuk, who is also currently injured, have been named to the United States roster.
