- Dallas Stars head coach Pete DeBoer has shared that forward Jason Robertson will be a game-time decision for Wednesday night’s Game 1, while defenseman Miro Heiskanen will continue to sit out, per Lia Assimakopoulos of the Dallas News. Getting Robertson back would be an incredible boost for the Stars roster. The winger led the team in goals (35) and ranked second in points (80) through 82 games this season. He continues to stand as a pillar of goal-scoring for the Stars, even as he falls short of reaching the 46 goals and 109 points he posted two seasons ago. Robertson has a pattern of producing in the postseason – with 38 points in 45 career games compiled between 2022 and 2024. Heiskanen will be much of the same upgrade when he’s back to full health. He again served as Dallas’ top defenseman this season and managed 25 points in 50 games before going down with injury. Heiskanen has 61 points in 85 career playoff games, including 16 points in 19 games last season.
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Stars Rumors
Robertson, Heiskanen Set To Return In Second Round For Stars
The Dallas Stars just knocked off the Colorado Avalanche in a nail-biting seven-game thriller—and they did it without their top goal-scorer and a top defenseman. Now, with Jason Robertson and Miro Heiskanen set to rejoin the lineup for Round 2, the big question is: what kind of damage can this team do at full strength?
According to Taylor Baird of NHL.com, we should get that answer soon. Both players are set to return at some point in Dallas’ second round series, although coach Pete DeBoer didn’t specify exactly when each player would return.
As DeBoer told reporters Saturday: “I believe you’re going to see them both play in the second round, but I don’t know if it’s going to be Game 1 or Game 3 or Game 5. I consider them both day-to-day now, but there’s still some hurdles. It depends on when we start the series, how much time we have between now and Game 1. We’ll have a little better idea as we get closer.”
Robertson injured his knee in the regular season finale and was listed as week-to-week at the time. The 25-year-old California native was a force all season, suiting up for all 82 games and racking up a team-best 35 goals. Already boasting an eye-popping 394 points in just 374 career games, Robertson has proven he’s more than just a regular-season star. With 38 points in 45 playoff appearances, he’s shown he can shine just as brightly when the stakes are highest. His return will no doubt aid an already potent offense.
Much the same can be said of Heiskanen’s return. Heiskanen’s 25 points in 50 games might not grab headlines like Robertson’s scoring totals, but the Finnish blueliner is still a cornerstone for the Stars when healthy. On the season, he led the team in average ice time, logging over 25 minutes a night. And like Robertson, Heiskanen has shown an ability to produce in the playoffs, as evident by his six goals and 16 points just last season during the team’s 19-game run. He has been out since January with a knee injury.
Morning Notes: Marner, Stars, Buium, Lindholm
The Toronto Maple Leafs were without star winger Mitch Marner at Sunday morning’s practice, as Marner attends to the birth of his first child. He isn’t expected to miss any time, helped along by Toronto’s second round matchup against the Florida Panthers beginning at home on Monday. Marner finally broke through the 100-point glass ceiling this season, scoring a career-high 102 points in 81 games played. He also recorded just 14 penalty minutes – a career-low. Those marks have carried into the postseason, with Marner netting one goal, eight points, and no penalties in six games of the first round. He is notably just under two months away from hitting the open market, unless Toronto can manage an eight-figure contract extension before July 1st. Marner is performing at a top mark at the perfect time – but he’ll have to hold onto the scoring role if Toronto wants to get by a Panthers lineup that averaged the fifth-most goals-per-game in the first round.
Other notes from around the league:
- Dallas Stars head coach told the media on Sunday that it is still unlikely Jason Robertson or Miro Heiskanen are ready for the start of the second round, per Lia Assimakopoulos of Dallas News. DeBoer did share a glimmer of hope, though, adding that both players should be good to go at some point during round two. The Stars lineup will undeniably improve when they receive their top goal-scorer and top defender back from prolonged injury – an exciting thought to consider after they beat the Colorado Avalanche in a seven-game series. Robertson and Heiskanen – who both have returned to skating at optional practices – will have at least four more games to work their way back into the lineup.
- Star prospect Zeev Buium only appeared in four games before the Minnesota Wild were eliminated from playoff contention. He performed well in those appearances, netting one assist and four penalty minutes from a depth role, and now faces the a transitional summer as he moves from college to the NHL full-time. Buium hasn’t shared too many details of what the summer will look like, but he did announce that he’ll join Team USA at the World Championship, per Michael Russo of The Athletic. Buium represented his country at the World U18 Championshp in 2023 – netting six points in seven games – and at each of the last two World Juniors – where he combined for 11 points in 14 games. Now, he’ll get to join the Americans at the top flight – stepping onto a blue-line full of young-and-upcoming defensive talent. Buium will fight for a role over Mason Lohrei, Jackson LaCombe, and Michael Kesselring.
- Speaking of Worlds, the Boston Bruins have shared that centerman Elias Lindholm will join the Team Sweden roster immediately. Lindholm hasn’t played at this tournament since 2019, when he scored six points in eight games. That was Lindholm’s third-consecutive season joining the Swedes at the World Championship. Across the trio of years, he combined for 19 points in 26 games. Lindholm’s only opportunity to represent Sweden since 2020 came earlier this year, when he participated in three games of the 4-Nations Face-Off and managed no scoring. Lindholm totaled 47 points in 82 games of the NHL season, his lowest scoring pace since he recorded 21 points in 58 games as a rookie.
Stars’ Jason Robertson, Miro Heiskanen Remain Day-To-Day
5:30 p.m.: Per head coach Pete DeBoer, neither Heiskanen nor Robertson will play for the Stars in Game 7 against the Avalanche (via Lia Assimakopoulos).
10:38 a.m.: The Dallas Stars were without star forward Jason Robertson and defenseman Miro Heiskanen in their Game 6 loss to the Colorado Avalanche Thursday night. Head coach Pete DeBoer shared minimal updates for the pair of lineup pillars – noting that Robertson had returned to skating and remains day-to-day to Lia Assimakopoulos of the Dallas News. Heiskanen carries the same day-to-day designation, per Sam Nestler of All Dallas.
Robertson played through all 82 games of the regular season and once again served as Dallas’ premier scorer, with a team-leading 35 goals and second-ranked 80 points on the full year. It was yet another impressive performance from the 25-year-old winger – a nice step up from his 29 goals and 80 points last season, but still short of his 46 goals and 109 points in 2022-23. Robertson is progressing towards a return and will bring a major boost in firepower over top-six winger Mikael Granlund, who has just two points in his last 10 games.
Heiskanen’s 25 points in 50 games this season don’t jump off the page quite like Robertson’s scoring – but the Finnish defender was leaned on heavily when healthy. He led all Stars skaters in ice time per game this season with a nightly average north of 25 minutes. The Stars have been forced to make up that ground with Heiskanen missing the last three months of action, prompting bigger roles for Esa Lindell and Thomas Harley. Both have performed well, which could lead Dallas to try and use Heiskanen on their right-hand side when he’s back to full health. An off-hand Heiskanen would surely outperform Cody Ceci, Ilya Lyubushkin, and Alexander Petrovic – the current makeup of Dallas’ right-side.
Robertson Upgraded To Day-To-Day
A key Stars winger is getting closer to returning to their lineup. Head coach Peter DeBoer told reporters including Lia Assimakopoulos of the Dallas Morning News that Jason Robertson has been upgraded from being out week-to-week to out day-to-day. The 25-year-old had his third straight season of at least 80 points this year, hitting the mark exactly but suffered a leg injury in the final game of the regular season. Robertson has been skating away from the team alongside injured blueliner Nils Lundkvist (who is still a long way from returning from shoulder surgery) and it appears he is progressing well in his recovery.
Injury Updates on Stars Lyubushkin and Heiskanen
Stars coach Pete DeBoer shared positive updates on the status of Ilya Lyubushkin, per Lia Assimakopoulos of the Dallas Morning News.
DeBoer noted that Lyubushkin’s absence at practice today was simply a maintenance day and that the veteran will be good to go for Thursday’s pivot Game Six matchup against the Avalanche. Lyubushkin contributed an assist and two blocked shots in the Stars’ 6-2 Game Five victory, which game them a 3-2 series lead. The 30-year-old has averaged more than 20 minutes of ice time per game during the series, so his availability moving forward is welcomed news for Dallas.
Miro Heiskanen Won't Return For Game 5
Before the Round One matchup between the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars shifted to Denver for Games 3 and 4, there was some belief defenseman Miro Heiskanen would return to the Stars lineup in one of those contests, given he was traveling with the team. Heiskanen was not activated, and that will not change this evening either.
Fortunately, the series isn’t as lopsided as it should be for the Heiskanen-less Stars. Despite being outscored by a margin of six and having only had the lead for 62 seconds in the entire series, Dallas has still managed to keep the series split two games apiece.
Stars Miro Heiskanen Won't Dress For Game Four
- Dallas Stars defender Miro Heiskanen will not play in tonight’s game four matchup against the Avalanche, per Lia Assimakopoulos of the Dallas News. Heiskanen recently rejoined practice first time since sustaining his knee injury in late January, and Friday’s practice was the closest he’s been to a full participant, Assimakopoulos notes. In 50 games on the season, the 25-year-old scored five goals and 25 points from the point. He’s also showcased an ability to elevate his game in the playoffs, including last season where he produced six goals and 16 points in 19 games. Coach Pete DeBoer also noted that forward Oskar Back will be a game-time decision after suffering an injury in game three. If he is unable to go, the door will be open for Mavrik Bourque to slot back into the lineup.
Miro Heiskanen Will Travel, Jason Robertson Won't
- After splitting the first two games in Dallas, the Stars and Avalanche are headed north for Game 3 and Game 4 of their opening-round matchup. According to Sam Nestler of DLLS Sports, defenseman Miro Heiskanen will travel with the team while forward Jason Robertson will not. Given that he’s already returned to skating, there’s a strong chance that the Stars will welcome Heiskanen back at some point in Colorado. Meanwhile, Robertson’s recovery is only a few days into a week-to-week prognosis, meaning there’s very little chance of him returning during Round One.
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Miro Heiskanen's Status Downgraded To Day-To-Day
After being dealt several injuries and disappointingly finishing the season, the Dallas Stars got one piece of positive news before their Round One matchup against the Colorado Avalanche. Although he won’t play tonight, Lia Assimakopoulos of The Dallas Morning News reported that defenseman Miro Heiskanen joined the team for optional practice this morning for the first time since sustaining his knee injury in late January.
Heiskanen has been upgraded to day-to-day status, which means he could be available to the Stars as early as Game 2. He will be a crucial player to reintegrate into the lineup since they are facing one of the top offenses in the league. While the Stars’ defense is strong, the Avalanche’s defense presents a tougher matchup as currently constructed.
There is a clear difference in Dallas with Heiskanen on the ice and Dallas without. The team earned a 64.0% winning percentage through the first 50 games of the regular season before Heiskanen’s injury, and saw it drop to 56.25% once he exited the lineup. There’s no questioning the Stars’ talent, and it would be a fool’s errand to write them off already, but the loss of their top defender has negatively impacted them as expected.