Head coach Glen Gulutzan said Tuesday that it’s unlikely Roope Hintz will suit up for the Stars during their first-round playoff series with the Wild.
Gulutzan ruled Hintz out for Game 6 in Minnesota Thursday and said there is only a slim chance he would play if the series reached Game 7.
“There’s a chance,” Gulutzan said of his availability for Game 7. “Would I bet on it? No.”
Hintz was injured during Dallas’ March 6 game against the Colorado Avalanche after a collision with Nathan MacKinnon. It was his first game back from the Olympic break after dealing with an illness for over a week.
Hintz then suffered a setback in his recovery, as the Stars initially thought he would return ahead of the postseason.
The centerman has been skating for nearly a week, but has not yet participated in a group skate. The Stars would like for him to skate with the group before he plays in a game.
Hintz had 44 points in 53 games for the Stars this season. He is Dallas’ top-line center, can play on the power play and penalty kill and is one of the fastest skaters in the NHL.