Ottawa Senators’ team leader, Brady Tkachuk, is set to miss six to eight weeks due to a recent surgery on his right thumb, as disclosed by the NHL franchise on Thursday. The decision for the surgical procedure came after team owner Michael Andlauer mentioned on Wednesday in New York that Tkachuk was seeking a second opinion to evaluate the necessity of surgery.
Tkachuk sustained the thumb injury during a game against the Nashville Predators when he was forcefully pushed into the boards by Roman Josi early in the match. Despite initially continuing to play, the 26-year-old forward eventually exited the game during the third period.
The timing of the surgery positions Tkachuk to potentially make a comeback in late November or early December, well in advance of the Milan-Cortina Olympics scheduled for February. Both Tkachuk and his brother, Matthew, a player for the Florida Panthers, have been selected for the U.S. national team despite Matthew’s injury, which is also expected to keep him out until December.
