Stars hopeful Roope Hintz will return before playoffs
Dallas Stars head coach Glen Gulutzan has provided an optimistic update on the status of his team’s top-line center.
Gulutzan revealed on Tuesday that Roope Hintz’s current lower-body injury is not expected to require surgery, and the Stars are hopeful to get Hintz back in their lineup in time for the playoffs.
Gulutzan update on Roope Hintz: “Nothing surgical, so that's a real big plus. Hopefully we stay on that week-to-week timeline, and hopefully he can play before the playoffs.”
Hintz, 29, has played in just one game for Dallas since the NHL has returned from its Olympic break. He missed Dallas’ first four games following the break due to an illness. He returned to play in the Stars’ 5-4 shootout loss to the Colorado Avalanche on March 6th, during which he suffered his current lower-body injury after getting tangled up with Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon along the boards.
Here's the best look we've seen so far at how Hintz got injured in the corner with MacKinnon.
In 53 games played this season, the Finnish national has 15 goals and 29 assists for 44 points. He is in the third season of an eight-year, $67.6 million contract with Dallas.
Hintz isn’t the only high-end forward Dallas is currently missing due to injury. Winger Mikko Rantanen, who is currently out with a lower-body injury he suffered while playing for Team Finland at February’s Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, skated on Monday for the first time since his injury. Gulutzan said that the Stars are hopeful Rantanen will return in another two or two and a half weeks.
Mikko Rantanen skated yesterday for the first time. Glen Gulutzan says they are hopeful he can return in 2-21/2 weeks
Rantanen, 29, is second on the team in scoring this season with 20 goals and 49 assists for 69 points in 54 games. He is in the first season of an eight-year, $96 million contract.
With 88 points through 63 games, Dallas sits second behind the Avalanche in the Central Division and the entire NHL.
The Stars are in the midst of a six-game homestand. They’ll host the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday, followed by the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday.