The Dallas Stars have activated defenseman Lian Bichsel from long-term injured reserve, anticipating his return to the ice tonight. The team created a roster opening by placing Radek Faksa on injured reserve yesterday and, benefiting from ample cap space due to Tyler Seguin’s status on LTIR, no other roster moves were necessary. Bichsel’s activation coincides with the Stars facing the Seattle Kraken in their upcoming game.
Bichsel and Teammates Set for Tonight’s Defensive Lineup
Lian Bichsel is expected to play alongside newly crowned Olympic silver medalist Thomas Harley, according to Robert Tiffin of D Magazine. Meanwhile, Ilya Lyubushkin and Kyle Capobianco will be healthy scratches for the game, while Nils Lundkvist and Alexander Petrovic remain in the defensive rotation. This marks Bichsel’s first appearance since undergoing lower-body surgery after an injury received on November 30 against the Senators, causing him to miss nearly three months and 31 games.
Performance and Pairing Analysis of Bichsel and Petrovic
The 21-year-old Bichsel is slated to form the Stars’ third defensive pairing with Alexander Petrovic. Prior to his injury, this duo experienced mixed results; although they outscored opponents 12-8, their control metrics were less favorable, registering 42.1% of expected goals and 41.0% of shot attempts at even strength, according to MoneyPuck. Despite these numbers, the team remains optimistic about Bichsel’s ability to serve as a dependable bottom-pair defenseman.
Development and Role of Bichsel in Dallas’ Defensive Strategy
Selected 18th overall in the 2022 draft, the 6’7” Swiss defenseman has been viewed as a potential long-term shutdown presence on the left side, complementing top defensemen Miro Heiskanen and Thomas Harley. Before his injury, Bichsel was a regular starter, appearing in 26 games with three points and a plus-6 rating, averaging 15 minutes and 49 seconds of ice time per game, without extensive time on special teams.
Future Defensive Pairing Adjustments and Team Outlook
The Stars plan to continue evaluating Bichsel’s impact on possession metrics as the season progresses. Alexander Petrovic has posted stronger numbers when paired with Kyle Capobianco this season, with that combination achieving a 52.4% expected goals for percentage and outscoring opponents 7-2. Should the prior performance trends between Bichsel and Petrovic persist, the coaching staff might consider reintroducing Capobianco to the third-left defense role.
Dallas lines in morning skate:
Robertson-Johnston-Bourque
Steel-Duchene-Benn
Erne-Hryckowian-Blackwell
Bäck-Hyry-BastianLindell-Heiskanen
Harley-Lundkvist
Bichsel-Petrovic
Capobianco-LyubushkinDeSmith
Oettinger— Robert Tiffin (@RobertTiffin) February 25, 2026
