In June, Tkachuk was among the first six players named to the United States’ roster for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. When asked about his status, he was adamant that he’d be suiting up for the U.S.
During training camp, five months after the Senators were eliminated in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Tkachuk called this iteration of the team the deepest he’s been a part of since his rookie season in 2018-19.
Even though the 26-year-old forward could be out until December, he’s finding ways to have an impact.
“I’m trying to stay in all of the meetings, stay a part of the game reviews from the game before,” Tkachuk said. “I try to be here all of the mornings and before the games, just hanging out. … Just watch with the guys that aren’t playing and just kind of pick each other’s brains about what we’re seeing and how we can help at intermissions if guys ask us anything, we can give them our input from afar.
“I feel like it’s easy to kind of go to your own island and sulk a little bit, but for me, and I feel like for a lot of guys, it’s good to be a part of the group and help out any way that we can.”
That’s important for Ottawa (3-4-1), which has struggled to start the season and sits fifth in the Atlantic Division.
“It’s definitely a tough test mentally,” Tkachuk said. “But I think with that [comes] an opportunity to face adversity and get better because of it, and be a better person, player, leader. It’s an opportunity to grow in that aspect. I’m trying to look at it that way, that stuff like this happens, and now it’s an opportunity to find different levels to me as a person and a player.”