Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk, known for his physical and feisty style of play, is currently unable to participate in one of the most notable aspects of his game: dropping the gloves. The reason is a lingering recovery from surgery on his right thumb.
Recovery Limits Captain's Physical Play
Tkachuk confirmed to reporters on Monday, January 5, 2026, that he is not yet fully healed from the procedure performed in October. The injury occurred during the Senators' third regular-season game against the Nashville Predators on October 13, forcing him to miss six weeks of action. He returned to the lineup in late November but has played every game since with his thumb securely taped.
"I think it's a part of who I am and part of creating room for myself and for my teammates. Now I gotta be smart," Tkachuk stated. "People forget I had surgery. I missed six weeks and the repair went well, but I'm not going to put myself at risk to miss any time for that."
The Incident with Logan Stanley
The limitation became glaringly apparent during a game on Saturday night against the Winnipeg Jets. Midway through the second period, Tkachuk became entangled with Jets defenceman Logan Stanley near the Ottawa bench. While Tkachuk made it clear he could not fight, Stanley delivered what has been widely described as a sucker punch to the Senators' captain's head.
"Honestly, I was still watching the play and then out of the corner of my eye, I just see the punch coming, which caught me by surprise," Tkachuk recounted. "I didn't really expect it." He noted that a linesman had stepped in, and he was not anticipating the blow.
The NHL's Department of Player Safety reviewed the incident and suspended Logan Stanley for one game on Sunday. Despite being the recipient of the punch, Tkachuk was assessed a 10-minute misconduct penalty during the game, while Stanley received only two minor penalties.
Team Toughness and Moving Forward
Fighting has been a significant element of Tkachuk's NHL identity. According to hockeyfights.com, he has engaged in 38 fights throughout his career. However, for now, he must exercise caution. Not only is the thumb not fully recovered, but the tape on his hand would also violate league rules if he were to get into an altercation.
"I miss it, I wish I could be fighting. But for me, it's about team toughness and everyone taking that load," Tkachuk said, emphasizing a collective approach to physical play in his absence from fisticuffs.
When asked about the suspension given to Stanley, Tkachuk indicated he was ready to move on. "I wasn't happy getting suckered, but the league made its decision... I'm over it now," he said. "I don't shy away from anybody, but I've got tape on my hand, I can't fight. The wires crossed that just happened."
The Senators secured a 4-2 victory over the Jets in the contest, but the story post-game centered on Tkachuk's forced restraint and the league's disciplinary action.
