The Ottawa Senators may face a significant setback as their captain, Brady Tkachuk, could be sidelined for over a month at the start of the new NHL season. Tkachuk sustained a right hand injury after being cross-checked by Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi, resulting in an awkward collision with the boards during the first period of Monday’s game. Although Tkachuk continued to play, he visibly struggled and missed the final nine minutes of the game, which ended in a 4-1 defeat for the Senators.
According to head coach Travis Green, the 26-year-old forward is expected to be out for more than four weeks due to the injury. Green mentioned that the team is awaiting further updates to determine if Tkachuk will require surgery. Tkachuk’s absence will be keenly felt as he was the top scorer for the Senators last season, contributing 29 goals and helping the team secure their first playoff spot since 2017.
After defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning to kick off the regular season, the Senators suffered a loss to the Florida Panthers before returning home. Their upcoming match is scheduled for Wednesday night against the Buffalo Sabres. In brighter news, winger Drake Batherson confirmed his return from injury to face the Sabres. Batherson, hailing from Nova Scotia, was a key player for the Senators last season, finishing second in both goals and points for the team in 2024-25.