Stars’ Roope Hintz Set to Return vs. Avalanche; Trade Additions Won’t Play Yet
The Dallas Stars will get a boost to their lineup ahead of Friday night’s matchup with the Colorado Avalanche, though their recent trade deadline additions will have to wait a little longer to make their debuts.
Top-line center Roope Hintz is expected to return after missing time due to illness. He had been placed on injured reserve following the Olympic break after being sidelined for more than a week.
Hintz recently represented Finland men’s national ice hockey team at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, where the team earned a bronze medal. He, teammate Mikko Rantanen, and Radek Faksa all returned from the tournament dealing with health issues. While Hintz is ready to play again, the other two players are still recovering and are not yet cleared for game action.
Hintz said the illness lasted longer than he expected but added that he is finally feeling better and ready to get back on the ice.
So far this season, Hintz has recorded 15 goals and 29 assists in 52 games for Dallas.
Head coach Glen Gulutzan also confirmed that the Stars’ newly acquired players—defenseman Tyler Myers from the Vancouver Canucks and forward Michael Bunting from the Nashville Predators—will not suit up for Friday’s game. Instead, the team expects both players to make their Dallas debuts Sunday against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Gulutzan explained that the team has already begun reviewing video with the new additions to help them get comfortable with the Stars’ systems and style of play. He added that giving them time to settle in is important, especially after travel and personal adjustments that often come with midseason trades.
In goal, Jake Oettinger will start for Dallas. Hintz will replace Arttu Hyry in the lineup after Hyry was sent down to the Texas Stars on Thursday. Otherwise, the rest of the lineup will remain unchanged.
Dallas enters the matchup riding a franchise-record 10-game winning streak. The Stars currently trail the Avalanche by six points in the standings, though Colorado still has one game in hand.
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