The Dallas Stars may be without top defenseman Miro Heiskanen to begin the postseason.
Head coach Pete DeBoer said Tuesday it's "a realistic possibility" that Heiskanen wouldn't be able to play for the duration of the opening round of the playoffs.
Heiskanen suffered a knee injury Jan. 28 from an awkward collision with Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone and hasn't suited up since. He underwent surgery Feb. 4 and was given a month-to-month timeline.
DeBoer added that Heiskanen is in the gym everyday but isn't skating yet.
Heiskanen posted 25 points in 50 games before his injury and was logging a team-high 25:10 per game. He finished in the top 10 in Norris Trophy voting in each of the past two seasons.
Dallas could get some reinforcements in time for the playoffs. DeBoer said forward Tyler Seguin, who's been out since undergoing hip surgery in December, has been on the ice and is progressing well.
"Skating regularly, looking good," DeBoer said. "On all projections to be back by the end of the year."
Seguin collected nine goals and 11 assists in 19 games before his injury.
The Stars are on a collision course for a Round 1 matchup with the Colorado Avalanche. Dallas currently sits second in the Central Division, 11 points back of the Winnipeg Jets for top spot. The red-hot Avs sit third, four points up on the fourth-place Minnesota Wild.
