Brady Tkachuk's 6-8 Week Injury Has Leafs Fans Saying Auston Matthews Is Doing It Right

The Ottawa Senators have announced that captain Brady Tkachuk has undergone thumb surgery, and will miss the next couple of weeks, likely to be out throughout all of November and potentially even further.

Tkachuk was injured during Ottawa's game Monday against the Nashville Predators after being knocked into the boards by Predators defenseman Roman Josi.

Tkachuk did not return to the game with Head Coach Travis Green not having offered an update on Tkachuk's status, not sure when the Senators captain would be back, now confirmed by the team.

According to the Senators, Brady Tkachuk will miss approximately 6-8 weeks for recovery from thumb surgery, taking him to a return potentially by the end of November to early December.

If Tkachuk were to miss any additional time beyond that, it could bring into concern his status for the 2026 Winter Olympics, named as one of the six players headlining the U.S. Men's roster, along with older brother Matthew, as well as Auston Matthews as one of the American leaders.

The Senators statement seems to project Tkachuk to be back before the Olympics begin in February, with the full roster still to be announced.

Along with Tkachuk, fellow Senator Jake Sanderson is one of many vying for spots on the roster. The U.S. recently added Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson to their preliminary roster, along with Thatcher Demko and Brock Boeser from Vancouver, all three previously not included.

Some Toronto Maple Leafs fans have noted that one way in which Auston Matthews is playing will be helpful in keeping their captain healthy, and Tkachuk's injury may be a reminder of what Matthews doesn't need to be.

Tkachuk is known for his hard-nosed physical play style, being a scrappy agitator who isn't afraid of being mean. This heavily engaged play has come with Tkachuk's fair share of scraps, and even injuries.

The Senators, who will now be without their captain for a few weeks, will have to pay a price for their captain being a highly physical player, dealt an unlucky hand.

Matthews, on the other hand, is not known for his overly physical play, and coming off a major injury last season, has focused even more on the offensive side of things, and while for most players more is wanted, it may be the best path for #34.

In staying healthy and avoiding another serious injury concern, Matthews not getting himself into dangerous situations or being overly aggressive may be the best path to preserve his health. Toronto will need Matthews healthy and on the ice.

With the loss of Mitch Marner, having Matthews produce on offense more than ever is a must, and without him, the Toronto Maple Leafs face a big hole they'd rather not risk losing over some minor infraction.