Dallas Stars’ injury situation was worse than feared in Stanley Cup playoffs
Dallas Stars GM Jim Nill said he wants Rick Bowness to return as the full-time head coach.
That sounds like a when, not an if.
The troubling news that Nill revealed on Thursday is that center Tyler Seguin is dealing with an injury that is far worse than originally feared.
Seguin suffered a torn labrum in his hip, which he was playing with as the Dallas Stars reached Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final.
The Stars were shutout by the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 6, and they looked wiped out from the opening face off.
Lying about injuries, playing through them, and then revealing them when it’s all over is a time honored tradition in the NHL that never fails to deliver drama.
Nill said Seguin is looking at a four-month recovery period after surgery.
“A lot of guys were banged up,” Nill said on Thursday in a Zoom call with the media.
This is just how banged up they actually were:
Tyler Seguin had late-season knee issues, and they continued when the Stars returned after the NHL’s pause. The knee injury likely contributed to his hip injury.
Jamie Benn sustained a shoulder injury late in the season, before the NHL break. Nill said the injury bothered Benn a little bit, but he never complained about it.
Ben Bishop had knee surgery in late May. There was not enough time for the goalie’s injury to heal, which resulted in Bishop playing in just two playoff games.
Anton Khudobin, who replaced Bishop, had surgery on his arm yesterday to address a nerve issue. He was suffering from numbness in his hands, which affected his ability to hold the stick.
Roope Hintz took painkilling injections after an ankle fracture in the Western Conference finals. A hip injury he sustained in the Stanley Cup Final knocked him out, but he was considering playing in a Game 7 against Tampa Bay.
Radek Faksa sustained a broken wrist in the Western Conference finals that ended his playoff run.
Stephen Johns played in the opening series against the Calgary Flames, but Nill said the defensman did not feel comfortable and so he shut himself down. Johns has been dealing with effects from PTSD for well over a year.
Jason Dickinson was playing through ankle and foot injuries. He was taking painkilling injections in order to play. He had to stop when he could no longer put on his skate.
John Klingberg suffered a shoulder injury in the round-robin games, which later forced him to miss one game in the Western Conference semifinals.
Miro Heiskanen sustained a hip injury in the Western Conference finals, but it improved.
Blake Comeau suffered a separated shoulder in the Stanley Cup Final.
Esa Lindell was dealing with a hand injury early in the playoffs.
Tyler Fedun injured his knee.
This story was originally published October 8, 2020 at 11:49 AM.
