For the next few weeks, Brady Tkachuk will have to sit and watch.

The Ottawa Senators captain spoke on Wednesday for the first time since undergoing surgery on his right thumb.

Although the team has previously given a six-to-eight-week timeline for his return, Tkachuk said he was itching to get back as soon as possible.

“Everything is going in the right direction,” he said. “Today was the first day I started to do stuff, and I feel like that’s going to keep me sane. Whenever the guys are playing and you’re not playing, you always want to be able to go to battle with them, so that’s been the toughest part is not being able to be around in those moments.”

Tkachuk said he would be limited to skating for some time before expecting to be cleared for puck-handling around Week 3 or 4 of rehab

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