Dallas Stars' Roope Hintz Could Feel Effects of Injury All Season

 

Although he returned to the lineup Saturday in a 5-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars General Manager Jim Nill says the injury that kept Roope Hintz out for two games this past week, might affect his play all season long. 

Nill made the comments to Matthew DeFranks of the Dallas Morning News on Feb. 26, adding that he thinks he will be in and out of games as the season goes on to manage the injury. Hintz wants to play through the pain.

"It’s something that he can’t injure it anymore. He’s going to fight through it the best he can. We’ll just play that by ear as we go each game." https://t.co/DhxjwfEAvO

— Matthew DeFranks (@MDeFranks) February 26, 2021

Not having Hintz at full strength could be a huge blow to the Stars' chances at climbing out of the basement in the National Hockey League's Discover Central Division. 

Hintz has missed five games already with what is suspected to be the same lower-body injury. The first two were back on Jan. 26 and 28 against the Detroit Red Wings. The latest were back-to-back games against the Florida Panthers on Feb. 24 and 25, including Thursday's "gut-punch" loss.

So far this season, he's recorded four goals, 10 points in 12 games played. The injury doesn't appear to be holding him back too much. But, should it start to hinder his play more, or should he reinjure it as this condensed season wears on, it could pose a problem for the Stars. 

The team is already without Tyler Seguin, another of the Stars' top centers. Nill said Seguin is on track for a return in April. But until then, Dallas could be weak down the middle, DeFranks writes.

...Hintz and Seguin are two of the Stars’ top centers. Joe Pavelski can, of course, play center. After that, the offensive threats down the middle in Dallas just aren’t there.

Radek Faksa, Jason Dickinson and Rhett Gardner are more known for their defensive play. Justin Dowling and Tanner Kero have been in and out of the lineup. Ty Dellandrea is in his first NHL season and has primarily played right wing. Joel L’Esperance is an offensive center but hasn’t been able to grab an NHL spot.

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