FRISCO, Texas — Miro Heiskanen, defenseman for the Dallas Stars, is set to be sidelined for a period of time due to a lower-body injury received from a significant hit by Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone. Consequently, Heiskanen will miss the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off tournament scheduled for next month.
Stars coach Pete DeBoer informed reporters on Thursday that Heiskanen underwent an MRI and will consult with a specialist to gain further insights into his condition and recovery timeline.
As a result of the injury, Finland’s general manager Jere Lehtinen, a former player for the Dallas team, reached out to both the Stars and Heiskanen, which led to his withdrawal from the 4 Nations event.
“It’s disappointing news, not only for Miro but also for the Finnish squad and the Dallas organization,” noted Antti Pennanen, Finland’s head coach. “We’re still awaiting further details regarding the injury, but we hope for Miro’s swift return to the ice.”
With Heiskanen unavailable, a replacement will have to be chosen for the Finnish national team, although Lehtinen has not provided a timeline for this decision.
The injury occurred during the third period of the Stars’ 4-3 overtime win against the Golden Knights on Tuesday. Stone, while being tripped, inadvertently fell onto Heiskanen’s left knee and thigh. At present, Stone has not faced any fines or suspensions for the incident.
After being penalized for tripping, Stone stated that injuring Heiskanen was never his intent. DeBoer, who previously coached Stone in Vegas, expressed that he does not view Stone as a dirty player but did question why officials failed to examine the play for a potential five-minute major penalty. Following the injury, there was a brief altercation on the ice between the two teams.
The 4 Nations tournament is set to take place from February 12 to February 20, with games in Montreal and Boston. This tournament marks the first time in almost ten years that top NHL players will compete at an international level.
Heiskanen’s absence will undoubtedly be a challenge for the Stars, who have successfully reached the Western Conference Final in each of the last two seasons. Currently, Dallas ranks second in the Central Division, with both Colorado and Minnesota closely trailing.
Since joining the Stars at the young age of 19 in 2018, Heiskanen has established himself as one of the elite defensemen on the team, having been selected third overall in the 2017 NHL Draft.
