The Dallas Stars announced on Tuesday that winger Mikko Rantanen has been placed on injured reserve just two days before the team resumes NHL play following the league’s three-week pause for the 2026 Winter Olympics. Rantanen sustained a lower-body injury during Finland’s semifinal defeat to Canada last Friday and did not participate in Finland’s bronze-medal match against Slovakia. The Stars have not provided a specific timeline for his return.
Impact of Rantanen’s Injury on Dallas’ Lineup and Upcoming Matches
At 29 years old, Rantanen leads the Dallas Stars in scoring with 69 points, including 20 goals over 54 games this season. Following Monday’s practice, coach Glen Gulutzan stated that Rantanen is expected to miss at least a couple of games. This will require significant adjustments to the Stars’ lineup, especially as they prepare for their first game back on Wednesday against the Seattle Kraken. Additionally, center Radek Faksa is listed as questionable due to an upper-body injury.
With Rantanen sidelined, Mavrik Bourque is expected to move up to the first line on the right wing, joining Jason Robertson and Roope Hintz on the left and center positions respectively. However, Hintz’s availability is uncertain as he recovers from a cold. If Faksa cannot play, the team may activate four usual scratches, with wingers Adam Erne and Nathan Bastian, who have each played in only 24 games this season, likely to join the lineup.
Stars’ Standings and Schedule as the Season Resumes
The Dallas Stars return to NHL action positioned third in the Central Division within the Western Conference. They trail second-place Minnesota by one point and are six points behind the division-leading Colorado Avalanche. Fortunately for Dallas, their next four games, which conclude ahead of the trade deadline, will be against teams with 63 or fewer points. This includes two games against the Vancouver Canucks, the NHL’s lowest-ranked team, and a game against the Calgary Flames, who sit just above Vancouver in the Pacific Division standings.
Additional Challenges for Dallas as Season Resumption Nears
The Stars may also be without starting goalie Jake Oettinger for their opener against the Kraken, as he is attending the State of the Union address in Washington, D.C. alongside the gold-medal-winning Team USA. Given the absences of Rantanen and potentially Oettinger, the lineup on Wednesday at the American Airlines Center could look unconventional. Nonetheless, Dallas has numerous capable players not involved in the Olympics who are ready to fill in temporarily. The team faces an important stretch as the NHL season resumes.
“The NHL returns this week, and so does the #MMPPQB. A lot will revolve around the status of Mikko Rantanen…- What will life look like without Rantanen?- The first thing to watch as #TexasHockey resumes play?- A key line combo with Rantanen out…” ?Brien Rea, Sports Broadcaster
The NHL returns this week, and so does the #MMPPQB. A lot will revolve around the status of Mikko Rantanen…
– What will life look like without Rantanen?
– The first thing to watch as #TexasHockey resumes play?
– A key line combo with Rantanen out… pic.twitter.com/dcr15ltY04— Brien Rea (@BrienRea) February 23, 2026
Finally: Roope Hintz is sick, so he’s also a question mark for Wednesday depending on how his illness goes.
— Robert Tiffin (@RobertTiffin) February 23, 2026
