The Dallas Stars are facing a major blow to their forward group and leadership core, as head coach Glen Gulutzan confirmed that Tyler Seguin is expected to miss the rest of the regular season with an ACL injury suffered during Tuesday night’s loss to the New York Rangers.
The injury occurred in the second period when Rangers defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov fell awkwardly on Seguin during a collision. Seguin had to be helped off the ice, unable to put weight on his leg - a sight that immediately had the Stars’ bench and fans holding their breath.
Before the injury, Seguin had been producing at a solid clip, registering 17 points over 27 games. While those numbers might not leap off the page, they reflect a player who was finding his rhythm again after battling through a string of injuries in recent seasons.
At 33, Seguin has already endured more than his share of time on the shelf. He played just 20 games last year while recovering from hip surgery and was limited to only three appearances during the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 campaign.
This latest setback comes deep into the seventh season of Seguin’s eight-year, $9.85-million cap hit deal - a contract that once symbolized the Stars' long-term commitment to their franchise centerpiece. And to be fair, Seguin has delivered plenty across that tenure.
He currently sits fifth all-time in franchise history in both goals (311) and points (705), and has suited up for 813 games in a Stars uniform. That’s a resume that speaks not just to talent, but longevity and impact.
The Stars haven’t ruled out a playoff return, but according to team sources, there isn’t much optimism on that front. ACL injuries are no joke, especially for a player with Seguin’s medical history. Recovery timelines vary, but even under the best-case scenarios, getting back to game speed in time for the postseason would be a tall order.
Dallas, meanwhile, is still very much in the hunt. They head into Wednesday night’s matchup against the New Jersey Devils sitting second in the NHL standings at 17-5-5. That record speaks to the team’s depth and structure - but losing Seguin strips them of a veteran presence who’s been through the battles, both physically and on the ice.
Injuries like this don’t just test a team’s depth chart - they test its identity. The Stars have the pieces to stay competitive, but Seguin’s absence is going to be felt in the locker room, on the power play, and in the clutch moments where experience matters most.
For now, it’s next man up in Dallas. But make no mistake - losing Tyler Seguin is a gut punch for a team with Stanley Cup aspirations.