Ottawa Senators’ captain Brady Tkachuk will be sidelined for six to eight weeks following a surgical procedure on his right thumb, the NHL franchise revealed on Thursday. The decision to undergo surgery was confirmed after seeking a second opinion, as mentioned by team owner Michael Andlauer in New York on Wednesday.
Tkachuk sustained the injury during a game against the Nashville Predators when Roman Josi cross-checked him into the boards early in the match on Monday night. Despite attempting to continue playing, the 26-year-old winger eventually exited the game during the third period.
The timing of the surgery positions Tkachuk for a potential return in late November or early December, well ahead of the Milan-Cortina Olympics scheduled for February. Both Tkachuk and his brother Matthew, a player for the Florida Panthers currently recovering from an injury and expected back in December, have already secured spots on the U.S. national team roster.