Heiskanen could return: Stellar Stars defense near return vs Jets

Heiskanen Could Return for Series against Jets, According to Pete DeBoer

Dallas Stars coach Pete DeBoer hopes injured star defenseman Miro Heiskanen can play in the series against the Winnipeg Jets.

“I still stand firm on what I projected: that we would see him in the second round,” DeBoer stated on Monday during an optional Dallas practice.
Pete DeBoer, Dallas Stars Coach

The Stars lead the series against the Jets 2-1, with Game 4 scheduled for Tuesday night.

Heiskanen remains “day-to-day” and hasn’t played since January 28, when he injured his left knee in a collision with Mark Stone, a player for the Vegas Golden Knights. Heiskanen underwent knee surgery and has been working to return to the team since the first-round series against the Colorado Avalanche. In 50 games this season, Heiskanen accumulated 25 points (five goals, 20 assists), averaging 25:10 of ice time.

Monday was a scheduled day off for Heiskanen. DeBoer said that “he will be back in action tomorrow.” The coach stated that any decision on Heiskanen’s status will be made in conjunction by the coach, the player, and the team’s medical staff.

In the previous round, DeBoer said that everything was “on the table” to facilitate Heiskanen’s return to the team, including playing with seven defensemen. The coach commented that he does not expect the 25-year-old defenseman to play his usual minutes immediately, as he ranked fifth in the NHL in average ice time during the regular season.

“I don’t think there are any specific restrictions, but we’re not going to put him on the ice for 30 minutes in his first game in three months,” DeBoer said. “We’ll have to be smart about it.”
Pete DeBoer, Dallas Stars Coach

Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson has seen firsthand what it’s like to go from watching the playoffs to competing in them. He returned to the team after being injured in a game on April 16, making his postseason debut in Game 1 in Winnipeg.

“You’re coming back from an injury, so what you had is obviously going to bother you. That’s the first thing. And then, getting to game speed in the playoffs is something different,” he said. “There’s nowhere to hide. Every moment is intense, every mistake, any pressure. Every time you get beat, everything intensifies. So you try to be very simple until you get your legs back and get into game shape. That might take a while.”
Jason Robertson, Dallas Stars Forward

The Stars have weathered Heiskanen’s absence thanks to the depth of their defense corps. Thomas Harley has stepped up in the power play, accumulating four points in the postseason. Veteran Cody Ceci has handled an increase of more than two minutes per game in ice time. Players like Lian Bichsel and Alexander Petrovic have played effectively, according to DeBoer.

“I think what our group has done has been exceptional,” the coach said.
Pete DeBoer, Dallas Stars Coach

Winnipeg coach Scott Arniel acknowledged that Dallas, already leading the series, will receive an instant emotional boost when Heiskanen returns.

“An elite player, obviously,” he said. “We can’t worry about someone who’s not here. If we suddenly show up and he’s in warmups, then yes, we certainly have to acknowledge it.”
Scott Arniel, Winnipeg Jets Coach

With the possibility of Heiskanen returning as early as Game 4, Arniel would be fine with the Stars continuing to take a cautious approach with their star defenseman.