Senators' Brady Tkachuk injury update leaves Ottawa star status uncertain

Billy Heyen

Senators' Brady Tkachuk injury update leaves Ottawa star status uncertain image

The Ottawa Senators had to finish their game Monday without star forward Brady Tkachuk.

It wasn't a precaution, either. Tkachuk really couldn't continue due to injury.

Tkachuk was injured the first period of a 4-1 loss to the Nashville Predators.

When Nashville defenseman Roman Josi smashed Tkachuk on a cross-check penalty, the Senators' captain was injured.

MORE: Ben Kindel matches Sidney Crosby's oddly specific Penguins NHL history

He returned initially after the hit but then didn't play in the final nine minutes of the defeat.

It's a bit of a tough time for the Tkachuk brothers as far as injuries go. 

Matthew Tkachuk, Brady's brother, is out until at least December after a 4 Nations Face-Off injury. The Florida Panthers will certainly miss their Tkachuk at times.

The Senators will miss theirs, too, if Brady Tkachuk does indeed need to miss time.

The Sens have played three games so far this season and lost two.

Tkachuk, as the captain, is the guy who will be expected to set the tone going forward to spark a turnaround.

He could do that from the sideline, but it's a lot easier for Tkachuk to set the Senators up on the ice than for him to try to do some rules thing in Week 1.

So hockey fans everywhere should hope for at least some recovery to get Brady Tkachuk back onto the ice.

MORE: Alex Ovechkin would have more goals if not for this unlucky reason

Billy Heyen

Billy Heyen is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is a 2019 graduate of Syracuse University who has written about many sports and fantasy sports for The Sporting News. Sports reporting work has also appeared in a number of newspapers, including the Sandusky Register and Rochester Democrat & Chronicle