Roope Hintz

Roope Hintz is unlikely to suit up for the rest of the Stars-Wild series, and that changes the chessboard in a hurry. When a top-line center goes missing in May, coaches start juggling matchups and everyone else starts pretending the next guy can absorb the load. Dallas can talk next-man-up all it wants, but this is the kind of injury that forces a team to reveal how deep it really is.

The Dallas Stars are staring at a financial problem that can make even a productive core player feel movable. Roope Hintz has the kind of value that plenty of teams would line up for, and the New York Rangers keep showing up whenever a big-name puzzle piece hits the board. If Dallas starts looking for flexibility, this is the sort of rumor that gets a quiet front office suddenly very loud.

Dallas assistant Glen Gulutzan delivers the bad news that Roope Hintz probably won't return for the remainder of the Stars-Wild series. Hintz's absence leaves a massive hole in the Stars' top-six forward group, where his two-way play has been crucial against Minnesota's grinding style. With the series hanging in the balance, Dallas faces tough lineup decisions that could shift the momentum in this tight Central Division battle.