The Ottawa Senators are potentially facing a situation where their team leader might be unavailable for at least a month, right as the new NHL season is commencing.
Brady Tkachuk was subjected to a cross-check by Roman Josi, a defenceman for the Nashville Predators, early in the initial period on Monday, resulting in an awkward collision with the boards.
Upon getting up, Tkachuk was observed holding his right forearm. Despite this, he continued to participate in the game but seemed to be in discomfort, ultimately sitting out the last nine minutes of the third period. The Senators were defeated with a score of 4-1.
Head coach Travis Green stated on Wednesday that the 26-year-old will be sidelined for a period exceeding four weeks due to an injury affecting his right hand, as reported by NHL.com. Green mentioned that the team anticipated gaining further information soon, including whether Tkachuk would require a surgical procedure.
Tkachuk was the leading scorer for the Senators in the previous season, achieving 29 goals and guiding the team to their first appearance in the playoffs since 2017.
Ottawa secured a victory against Tampa Bay to commence the regular season, subsequently experiencing a loss to the Florida Panthers before returning to their home venue. Their subsequent game is scheduled for Wednesday night in Buffalo.
Fellow winger Drake Batherson informed reporters on Tuesday that he will be making a return from his own injury to compete against the Sabres. The player from Nova Scotia secured the second position in both goals and points for the Senators in the 2024-25 season.
