The Dallas Stars superstar defenseman Miro Heiskanen's availability for the upcoming Stanley Cup Playoff remains in doubt as NHL insider provides with major injury update.
Will Miro Heiskanen feature in the Stanley Cup?
The 25-year-old missed the last 24 games due to a knee injury that he suffered during a collision with Golden Knights captain Mark Stone. The match was played on January 28 as the Dallas Stars walked away with a 4-3 overtime victory in Vegas. The play was controversial as it drew plenty of questions from the Stars but ended in no penalty.
The team is hoping that Miro returns in time or just before the start of the Stanley Cup playoffs. However, with less than one month remaining in the regular season, not many updates have been provided on the defenseman's health.
But, on Wednesday, fans got some clear picture on his health update as NHL insider Pierre LeBrun wrote an article that provided updates on several injured stars which also includes Heiskanen.
He started skating last week, it is still early in the process, LeBrun wrote. The initial timeline was three to four months, it will be two months on Friday. But the updated timeline right now is anywhere from the start of the Stanley Cup playoffs to the end of the first round. And when you consider that the Stars are currently lined up to play the Colorado Avalanche in a conference final-worthy matchup in the opening round, the difference in those two timeline scenarios is massive.
Miro Heiskanen has still four years left on his contract which is a whopping $67,600,000 that he signed back in 2021 with the Stars. With the large salary cap increases expected in the coming years, Heiskanen's $8.45 average annual salary should be a bargain for the Dallas Stars.
Dallas Stars need Miro Heiskanen to make Stanley Cup return
The Dallas Stars have not missed their superstar defenseman as they have still managed to win games without him. But, they will surely need his services to win the Stanley Cup.
Heiskanen has been the shining light for the team but that wasn't the case this year around as his point production saw a dip, having only registered 25 points (five goals and 20 assists) in the 50 games he has featured in. He has been logging 25:10 of ice time per game and was quick to shut down the opposition day in and out.
Miro has been ranked as one of the top-five defenseman in the league and it shows in the Stars performances as well as they are not the same without him. He has been a force to reckon with in the postseason games as he has notched up 61 points (16 goals and 45 assists) in the 85 games that he has played. Not just this, he has clocked an average 26:46 minutes.
The Stars will be taking on Nashville Predators on Thursday night as they go into the clash with their star defenseman. The puck drops at 8:00 pm EST at American Airlines Center.