Tyler Seguin out 3-6 weeks; Stars' playoff hopes take hit
The Dallas Stars will be without center Tyler Seguin for at least three weeks.
Their postseason hopes might be gone, too.
Seguin was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury Saturday. Coach Lindy Ruff initially told reporters in Colorado the 23-year-old could be out for 2-4 weeks, however general manager Jim Nill stayed back in Dallas and updated that timetable hours later, saying Seguin will be out of the lineup for 3-6 weeks.
He was injured on a low hit from Florida Panthers defenseman Dmitry Kulikov in the third period of Friday's game. Seguin's legs were taken out from under him, and he needed to be helped off the ice. Kulikov was given a five-minute major for clipping and a game misconduct. He's been offered an in-person hearing with the NHL department of player safety.
"It's a dirty shot," Ruff said after the game. "It's just something (the hit) that you end up taking your best player out of the game. "Not only out of the game, but he's taken him out of the lineup for a little bit for us. We'll let the league deal with it. I used to yell and scream about it, but it doesn't do any good. It's just a shot that didn't need to happen."
Dallas also announced that Patrick Eaves was placed on injured reserve because of a concussion sustained when he was hit in the head with a shot from teammate John Klingberg.
Ruff said the team was "fairly concerned" with Eaves because he's dealt with concussions before, one of which came on a similar play. Ruff told reporters Saturday he is going through concussion protocol.
Seguin is among the league's best offensive players, and he's consistently gotten votes in Paste BN Sports' MVP voting. He ranks third in the league with 59 points and fourth in goals with 29. He and winger Jamie Benn have developed into one of the most dangerous duos as well. Benn has 19 goals and 50 points.
Luckily for the Stars, Jason Spezza is more than capable of filling in as the first-line center. More difficult is finding the appropriate player for the second line, however. The Stars could use Vernon Fiddler or Cody Eakin in that role. Both players can't compare with what Seguin and Spezza bring to the table.
Brett Ritchie was recalled from the American Hockey League, and he might end up being Fiddler's replacement on the first line as he's gotten a look there at times this season.
Ales Hemsky suffered a lower-body injury Friday, and Antoine Roussel will be serving the second game of his two-game suspension Saturday, so the Stars will be thin on scoring-line talent. The Stars also recalled Travis Morin from the AHL.
After a slow start to the season, the Stars have climbed back into the playoff discussion. They are three points out of the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference, having won three consecutive games.
They will play at Colorado on Saturday night.
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