The Ottawa Senators were dealt a big blow to their lineup. Brady Tkachuk went down with an injury, and will miss an extended period of time. Initially, it was believed to be a four week injury. However, Ottawa announced Thursday that he will miss 6-8 weeks after undergoing thumb surgery.
Tkachuk is the heart and soul of this Senators team. This marks his sixth season as the captain in Ottawa. He is consistently one of their leading offensive players. And his relentless, high-energy playstyle has endeared him to the fanbase at large.
He is the captain who led the Senators back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Ottawa made it last season for the first time since 2017. Unfortunately, they lost to the Toronto Maple Leafs in six games during the first round.
This is a player that means a lot to not only the lineup, but the organization as a whole. Head coach Travis Green knows his team cannot replace someone of Tkachuk’s caliber. At the same time, they can’t dwell on his absence.
“We are going to miss him,” Green said Wednesday, via NHL.com. “You don’t replace guys like that, but we’ve always had the mindset of next man up. It’s another opportunity. Teams are going to have injuries. That’s part of the NHL.”
Senators Embrace Next Man Up Mentality
Carmen Mandato/Getty ImagesThe Ottawa Senators must find a way to move forward without Brady Tkachuk.
Injuries can certainly be demoralizing for a team. Especially when they take one of the most important members of the roster out of the lineup. However, the Senators have other leaders in the locker room. And they are all embracing the next man up mentality.
David Perron has not been with Ottawa long, as he enters his second season in the Canadian capital. He is renowned for his leadership qualities in the dressing room, though. He will be one of the players Ottawa counts on to step up. And he certainly understands the situation.
“He’s a big part of our team and it’s tough to lose him, but it’s got to be a little of a next-man up mentality right now,” Perron said, via NHL.com. “We can’t worry about who’s playing and who’s not. We’ve got to just go out there and get the job done.”
When Will Ottawa Have Brady Tkachuk Back?
Games still need to be played, of course, before Tkachuk returns. It’s easy to look ahead, and there may not be any real point in doing so. However, it’s a worthwhile discussion nonetheless.
Six weeks from Thursday’s announcement is American Thanksgiving, November 27th. Eight weeks is December 11th. Barring any setback, the Senators will have Tkachuk back sometime between those two dates.
Ottawa has to do its best to hold out as best they can. It could be nearly two months before Tkachuk returns. And it’s a tall task to keep themselves above water. Thankfully, they have players who are performing, such as Shane Pinto, whose goal on Thursday makes in the league leader with six on the year.
Tkachuk means a lot to the Senators. And they know they can’t replace him. As a result, the team is looking to the next man to help soften the blow until the captain returns.
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