Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk is targeting a return for late next week.
The star winger said on the Wingmen podcast released Wednesday that the plan is for him to play around American Thanksgiving, which falls next Thursday.
The Senators face the Vegas Golden Knights on the road next Wednesday and then play the St. Louis Blues on Friday as part of a seven-game road trip that starts Thursday in Anaheim.
Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia reported earlier this week that Tkachuk was in New York on Monday to meet with a hand specialist to receive clearance to step up his activities.
“I’ve got a doctor’s appointment in the next couple of days and I’m excited to hear what he has to say for me,” Tkachuk said on the podcast, with the recording date unclear. “Hopefully, everything is all clear to go out there to battle and compete.
“Hopefully around Thanksgiving we’re back, and we’re ready to rock.”
Tkachuk has missed 16 games after undergoing surgery on Oct. 16 to repair a torn ligament on his thumb and was expected to need a recovery time of six-to-eight weeks. He resumed skating with his teammates last Friday.
The 26-year-old has three assists over three games this season after netting 29 goals and 26 assists over 72 games in 2024-25.
Selected fourth overall in 2018, Tkachuk has 191 goals and 407 points in 515 career games. He had 29 goals and 55 points in 72 games last season after topping 30 goals and 65 points in each of the previous three seasons.
The Senators currently sit fifth in the Atlantic Division with a 9-6-4 record, just three points back of the first-place of the Detroit Red Wings with one game in hand.