Uncertainty looms over the Dallas Stars as they prepare for the Stanley Cup playoffs, with the possibility that Miro Heiskanen—teammate of newly-acquired star Mikko Rantanen—could miss the first round. Heiskanen, who underwent knee surgery on February 4, might not be ready for the start of the postseason, according to head coach Pete DeBoer.
This news is a significant blow to the Stars, who have heavily relied on Heiskanen’s elite defensive and offensive contributions. The 23-year-old defenseman injured his left knee in a collision with Vegas Golden Knights forward Mark Stone on January 28 and has been sidelined since. His surgery came with an estimated recovery time of 3-4 months, raising concerns that he may not return until the second round of the playoffs—if the Stars advance that far.
When asked about Heiskanen’s potential absence in the first round, DeBoer acknowledged the possibility. “That’s a realistic possibility,” DeBoer said, according to NHL.com.
“We’re going to get Colorado, Winnipeg, somebody really good in the first round [of the playoffs]; that’s a given. On paper, we’re going to have similar lineups to whoever we’re playing. So that chemistry, that team identity, all those things you’re trying to establish down the stretch are going to be the things that hopefully separate you from whoever you’re playing at that time of the year because there’s not going to be a lot of skill separation on paper.” DeBoer added.
Despite Heiskanen’s absence, the Stars have maintained a solid record of 11-4-2, though they’ve suffered key losses against playoff contenders like the Colorado Avalanche and Winnipeg Jets.
Strategic moves in the trade market
To compensate for injuries to key players like Heiskanen and Tyler Seguin, the Stars have made strategic acquisitions. On February 1, they traded for defenseman Cody Ceci and forward Mikael Granlund from the San Jose Sharks. Then, on March 7, they secured star forward Mikko Rantanen from the Carolina Hurricanes, signing him to an eight-year, $96 million contract the same day. These moves demonstrate the Stars’ commitment to bolstering their roster for a deep playoff run.
What’s next for the Stars?
The Stars will play their final regular-season game on April 16 against the Nashville Predators. The uncertainty surrounding Heiskanen’s availability adds intrigue to the final stretch of the season and the Stars’ playoff preparations.