The Dallas Stars’ lineup is once again facing a major setback due to injuries, and this time the situation is even more concerning than before. Defenseman Lian Bichsel has been ruled out for an estimated six to eight weeks following a lower-body injury sustained during Sunday’s victory against the Ottawa Senators. This injury is serious enough that it will require surgical intervention, as confirmed by Stars head coach Glen Gulutzan in a Tuesday update.
The incident occurred late in the second period when Bichsel was skating near the boards in front of the team benches, attempting to gain control of the puck. While making his move, he was forcefully hit by Ottawa’s Fabian Zetterlund and ended up crashing awkwardly into the boards, landing feet-first. The impact clearly caused significant pain, as Bichsel was seen writhing on the ice, unable to put any weight on his left leg, and he had to be assisted off the ice.
Bichsel did not return for the remainder of the game, and initially, the team hoped for a more optimistic prognosis following a Monday evaluation. Unfortunately, that hope was dashed, and now the Stars are facing the reality of losing one of their key defensive players for a substantial period.
Coach Gulutzan stressed, "He’s an important part of our lineup. Bichsel has been performing exceptionally well. He’s a talented young defenseman with a strong physical presence, so losing him is a significant blow."
Adding to concerns, this injury affects the same leg where Bichsel suffered a broken left ankle back in May 2023. Over the summer, he underwent a procedure to remove the surgical plate that had been implanted during his recovery. Bichsel is in his second NHL season with Dallas and has recently taken on a more prominent role, averaging nearly 16 minutes of ice time across 26 games this year, contributing one goal and two assists.
Standing 6-foot-7, Bichsel is recognized as the most physically imposing player on the Stars’ roster, leading the team with 85 hits this season—a huge gap since the next highest player has only 44. Beyond his physicality, he is trusted to handle key minutes on the penalty kill and impresses with his puck-moving capabilities, which many might overlook given his size.
Drafted in the first round in 2022, Bichsel made his eagerly awaited NHL debut last December and went on to participate in the remainder of the regular season and playoffs, showing promising development.
This injury adds to an already depleted defensive lineup for the Stars. Incidentally, Bichsel’s injury occurred in the same game that Ilya Lyubushkin returned after missing six games due to his own lower-body injury. Thomas Harley remains out week-to-week with a lower-body injury, having missed more than two weeks, while Nils Lundkvist is still on long-term injured reserve, sidelined by a similar injury sustained over a month ago. Although Lundkvist is expected to resume skating soon, the team has not provided a clear return timetable.
Coach Gulutzan noted that Bichsel and Lundkvist are battling very similar injuries, suggesting a pattern some might find troubling regarding the team’s injury management or sheer misfortune.
On the offensive side, forward injuries also plague the team. Matt Duchene has been absent for six weeks but is nearing a comeback, while Adam Erne continues to deal with a lower-body injury on a week-to-week basis.
To fill the defensive gaps, the Stars have called up reinforcements from their affiliate in Cedar Park. Besides Alexander Petrovic, who was brought up at the start of the season, recent additions include Kyle Capobianco and Vladislav Kolyachonok. However, the roster is stretched thin, with only six healthy defensemen available, and no new call-ups were made for the accompanying road trip to the East. Kolyachonok is expected to rejoin the lineup on Tuesday to replace Bichsel.
The team must now hope for the near-term returns of Lundkvist and Harley, as the depth on defense is alarmingly thin. With such a depleted blue line, questions arise about how sustainable this situation is and what the Stars’ management might do next.
This string of injuries sparks a controversial discussion about the physical toll on players like Bichsel, who are expected to be both imposing and resilient. Is the Stars' defense pushing these athletes too hard, or is it just bad luck? What do you think the team should prioritize: player safety or competitive depth? Share your thoughts and join the conversation.
Lia Assimakopoulos, who covers the Stars and collegiate sports for The Dallas Morning News, has been reporting since June 2022. Her background includes stints with Sports Illustrated, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and NBC Sports. A Bethesda, Maryland native, she graduated from Northwestern University.
For the latest Dallas-Fort Worth sports updates, including insights and expert opinions, subscribe to Sports Roundup or follow on Twitter @Lassimak.
