02/24/26 12:57:00
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02/24 12:55 CST Mikko Rantanen will miss at least 2 weeks for the Dallas Stars
after getting hurt in the Olympics
Mikko Rantanen will miss at least 2 weeks for the Dallas Stars after getting
hurt in the Olympics
By STEPHEN HAWKINS
AP Sports Writer
DALLAS (AP) --- Mikko Rantanen will be out for an extended time for the Dallas
Stars after sustaining a lower-body injury in the Olympics.
Coach Glen Gulutzan said Tuesday that all indications are that Rantanen will be
back before the end of the regular season, but that "it's not days" for the the
length of time they will be without their leading scorer.
"It won't be one or two games. It'll be, let's start in two weeks, and then see
where it goes from there," Gulutzan said. "So he'll be out for some time."
Gulutzan didn't elaborate on what the exact injury was for Rantanan, who got
hurt in the Olympic semifinals and didn't play in Finland's win over Slovakia
for the bronze medal.
The Stars had placed Rantanen on the injured list Monday, after the forward met
with team doctors.
"It was kind of what I was expecting just from hearing what had gone on over at
the Olympics," Gulutzan said after practice Tuesday. "Not the best news, but
the stuff you've got to deal with."
The Stars host Seattle on Wednesday night and are home again Saturday against
Nashville. They have 25 regular-season games remaining through April 15.
Rantanen is in the first year of a $96 million, eight-year extension he got
after being traded to the Stars at the deadline last season. He has 69 points
this season (20 goals, 49 assists).
He got hurt in Finland's 3-2 loss to Canada in the Olympic semifinals on Friday
night.
He was one of six Stars who brought home medals from Italy.
Jake Oettinger was a backup goalie for the United States team that won the gold
medal with a 2-1 overtime win against Canada, which meant a silver for Stars
defenseman Thomas Harley. Four Dallas players were on the Finland squad that
won bronze: Rantanen, Roope Hintz, Esa Lindell and Miro Heiskanen.
Oettinger could rejoin the team for its morning skate Wednesday, but Gulutzan
said he wouldn't start against the Kraken.
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