Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk met local media, including Hockey HotStove, on Wednesday to provide an injury and recovery update after undergoing surgery on his right thumb, October 16.
Tkachuk confirmed his right thumb sustained a fully torn ligament upon crashing into the boards from a cross-check by Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi.
“They fully repaired the ligament, I think it was fully torn, and restabilized the joints. So I think I was under for a little two hour nap. So I was pretty fired up about that. But, yeah, no, it was good. They said, it went awesome, very smooth,” said Tkachuk.
The injury occurred only five minutes into the Senators home-opener, October 13. At the time, Tkachuk remained on the bench, left for a few minutes, returning to play until he was forced to remove himself from the game for the final 9:04.
Tkachuk explained why he finally left when he did, “I had a partial breakaway. And usually on any given day, I’m very confident, but I knew right when I shot it, it was a complete muffin. I just knew my finger was killing me when I shot it too. So I knew kind of then, and just every time I touched the puck and it was bothering me. I feltl like I wasn’t playing the way that I needed to play. And yeah, just eventually, just couldn’t really hold on my stick.
So it was kind of shitty that it happened, but it’s part of the game. First time going through it, so it’s going to be a new experience for me, but something I’m going to tackle head on and be better because of it.”
Tkachuk returned to New York on Tuesday, where the surgery was conducted by Dr. Robert Hotchkiss, and declared he’s ready to resume endurance and skating activities. He was on the ice Wednesday, working on his edge-work with renowned power skating coach Shelley Kettles.
“It’s been a long couple days, but everything is going in the right direction. Today’s the first day of being able to start to do stuff, and I feel like that’s gonna keep me sane.”
When can Tkachuk return to game action?
“I think that’s kind of too early to say. I mean, of course, I’m going to try to get back the first possible day. And I haven’t really looked at what that kind of day is. I can go skate now. “It’s only kind of been nine days off the ice, so I feel like the legs and the conditioning will kind of stay, but it’s just gonna be a little bit be able to stickhandle and shoot like that. So whenever this feels good enough to go, it’s probably that first game will be back,” noted the 26-year-old.
Tkachuk agreed the original timeline announced by the Senators in their October 16 release is accurate. Telling reporters, he should be able to grip his stick in three-to-four weeks and shoot the puck shortly thereafter.
Registering three assists in a come-from-behind season-opening game performance in Tampa Bay, Tkachuk states he’s still doing his best to aid his teammates and coaches in any manner possible, acting as another eye-in-the-sky from above during games.
The Senators’ captain fulfilling his role off-ice
Tkachuk added, “Try to be here all the mornings and before the game, just hanging out, just shooting with the boys, and staying a part of it. I mean, it’s tough. All I want to do is go out there for a warm up, go out there and play, but stuff like that, just kind of watching the room and watching the guys on our plan, and just kind of pick each other’s brains about what we see and how we can help. I
n intermissions, if guys have ask us anything, we can just give them our input from afar. But yeah, just for me, it’s staying a part of it. Stay a part of the group.”
The one thing Tkachuk won’t do is feel down, “I feel like it’s easy to kind of go up in your own island and sulk a little bit. But for me, I feel like for a lot of guys, it’s good for a few minutes to be a part of the group and help out in any way,”
Though the Senators rank as one the best teams playing at even-strength this season, they haven’t had success on the penalty kill which is a large factor in their 2-4-1 start to the 2025-26 NHL campaign.
Tkachuk recognizes there’s signs of improvement and displays confidence in his teammates to return to their form of last season.
“The last two games, could have easily got a point (in each), but the game before could have got two points. So I think we’re right there. And I know everything’s magnified at the start of the season, but what I’ve been saying to the guys and everybody in this organization, I have a full belief and faith in this group.
And I won’t even say, turn around, but just I know we’re getting back to our identity, and not leaving games to chance ever. Now, we need a full 60-minute effort and really start to play our way.”
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