Report: Stars’ Lian Bichsel out “significant time” with recent injury

The Dallas Stars may have to go without one of their key young defensemen for the foreseeable future, as according to a report from NHL insider Frank Seravalli, Lian Bichsel is likely to miss “significant time” with the injury he suffered on Sunday.

Bichsel left the team’s 6-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Sunday after just 9:31 of time on ice.

Bichsel, a 21-year-old native of Olten, Switzerland, has brought an imposing, physical brand of hockey to the Dallas defensive unit. The team’s first-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft at No. 18 overall, Bichsel has skated to a plus-6 rating while putting up 3 points in 26 games. Along the way, he’s doled out 85 hits and blocked 24 shots.

The Stars have had some tough luck in terms of injuries to their back end already, as Thomas Harley is currently out on a week-to-week basis. Harley’s absence had given Bichsel a clear lane to top-four playing time.

With both players sidelined, the team’s blue line will consist of Miro Heiskanen, Esa Lindell, Alex Petrovic, Kyle Capobianco, Ilya Lyubushkin and likely Vladislav Kolyachonok, who got some run while Lyubushkin was out recently.

While the Colorado Avalanche have put together far and away the best start to the season with one regulation loss in 25 games, the Stars have closed the gap on their rival and have a four-point cushion for the second-best record in the NHL. Dallas owns a 17-5-4 record and trails the Avs by just four points for both the division and league lead.

The Stars are currently on an East Coast road trip that will continue on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden against the New York Rangers before wrapping up with a back-to-back against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday.

Dallas will then return home to host the San Jose Sharks on Friday night.