Dallas – The Stars will be without top defenseman Miro Heiskanen for Thursday’s matchup against the Winnipeg Jets, coach Glen Gulutzan confirmed Wednesday. Heiskanen, who has logged an average of 24:53 of ice time per game over 15 contests, has not yet completed the required practice session to be cleared for play.
Why a Collective Approach Matters
Heiskanen’s contributions this season include three goals, eight assists and 11 points, underscoring his role in both defensive responsibilities and puck movement. Rather than assigning his entire workload to a single player, the coaching staff intends to distribute the minutes among several capable defensemen.
Thomas Harley: Near‑Match in Ice Time
Thomas Harley emerges as the most comparable option, averaging 24:57 of ice time per game—virtually identical to Heiskanen’s. Harley has also tallied 11 points in 17 games, with two goals and nine assists. His recent performance against San Jose on Nov. 7, where he recorded a goal and two assists in a 4‑3 victory, highlights his offensive upside.
However, Harley’s current workload is already substantial. Adding the full complement of Heiskanen’s minutes would risk overtaxing him and could diminish the mobility and offensive contributions the Stars rely on from him over multiple games.
Additional Defensive Support
Esa Lindell, averaging 22:24 of ice time, offers a solid secondary option. He out‑paces Nils Lundkvist (17:41), Tyler Myers (16:16) and Lian Bichsel (16:19), indicating a defensive corps already accustomed to significant responsibilities. The practical solution, according to Gulutzan, is to make modest increases to each player’s shift count rather than a drastic reshuffle.
Offensive Implications
While Lundkvist leads the group with three assists, Myers follows with two, and both Lindell and Bichsel have one each. No single forward can fully replicate Heiskanen’s puck‑moving abilities, so the Stars will need to rely on their forwards to convert defensive possession into scoring chances.
Team Performance Context
To date, Dallas has allowed 39 goals in 17 games, a 2.29 goals‑against average, while maintaining a positive goal differential. The penalty kill operates at an impressive 89.7 percent. These metrics illustrate a sturdy defensive foundation that should not be dismantled for a temporary absence.
Gulutzan emphasizes that a hasty, single‑player replacement would jeopardize the balance the team has built. Instead, the coaching staff will lean on the existing depth, allowing players like Harley to shoulder a larger share of the work without compromising overall team structure.
Looking Ahead
The Stars’ strategy reflects a commitment to preserving the defensive floor that has kept them competitive. By spreading Heiskanen’s minutes across multiple defenders, Dallas aims to maintain its strong penalty kill and goal‑prevention record while still providing offensive opportunities through its forward lines.
Fans can expect a collaborative defensive effort on Thursday, with the coaching staff monitoring ice‑time distribution closely to ensure the team remains resilient against the Jets.
Original reporting: DenisonWeekly.news — read the source article.
