Hockey

The Stars are likely to be active in replacing Tyler Seguin
Vincent Larue
The Stars are likely to be active in replacing Tyler Seguin
Credit: Getty Images

The news comes as a crushing blow to the Stars. Tyler Seguin will most likely miss the rest of the season after suffering a serious injury to the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. A monumental blow for a player who still played an important role in Dallas' offensive structure.

But in the harsh reality of the NHL, every major injury also opens a door. And in this case, that door leads directly to an almost unhoped-for gift for a team with its sights set on the Cup: nearly ten million in space to go and get some offensive reinforcements.

This blow comes at a time when Matt Duchene has just returned to action after his own injury. It's a breath of fresh air for the Stars' attack, which finds a veteran capable of shouldering some of the weight left by Seguin. The team loses a pillar, but at the same time recovers another impact player, which slightly changes the way the lines are managed, while offering management a little more flexibility on the ice.

Tyler Seguin's injury opens up valuable salary cap room. As of now, a portion of his contract can be used and, if the injury confirms what everyone feared, his entire annual 9.85 million could be exploited.

In a league where the smallest million directly influences the possibility of a trade, Dallas suddenly has a considerable advantage.

The Stars aren't just good, they're among the serious contenders for the Cup. Their structure is solid, their depth impressive, and their pace of play gives the impression of a team that knows exactly what it wants to accomplish.

The loss of Seguin hurts, but it also creates a unique opportunity to strike a blow. Dallas was already identified as an aggressive buyer. With this salary space, they become even more dangerous to acquire an impact player.

A major forward addition is now realistic. A player capable of turning a good team into an even more intimidating one in the playoffs. The return of Duchene provides some immediate stability, but the opportunity to add another important element is too huge to ignore.

What at first looked like a disaster could turn out to be a linchpin. A moment when Stars management takes a big risk, like last year when they acquired star forward Mikko Rantanen.


overtime

– Evgeni Malkin will miss today's game against the Stars with a minor upper-body injury.

Québécois Boko Imama is sent back to the AHL by the Penguins.

– Trevor Zegras rarely misses a penalty shot.

– Beckett Sennecke currently leads the rookies in points.

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