Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill announced that top line winger Jason Robertson would miss the majority of training camp this year after having surgery on his foot at the end of July to remove a cyst.
He was having discomfort while training in the offseason and a subsequent MRI found the cyst. Nill said he was non-weight bearing for six weeks post-surgery, and has recently begun skating. He’ll continue skating and having his progress monitored by the team in camp, but likely won’t appear in any of the team’s preseason games.
According to coach Pete DeBoer, he’s more worried about Robertson missing training camp than he is.
“Like Jason told me, the last time he missed training camp he started with a point per game in the first 40 games or something, so he’s not worried about it. Or he’s less worried about it than I am,” DeBoer said. “I’d much rather go through it now and have him miss training camp than have him miss regular season games.”
Injuries are a fact of the NHL, and each team will go through them at some point. The good news is that this is the only injury the Stars announced to start training camp, so that means at this point in time, the team’s relatively healthy.
Most penciled Robertson in on a new top line for this season with Roope Hintz and Wyatt Johnston after Joe Pavelski’s retirement from the league. Him missing time in camp will come with new opportunities for young guys looking to be considered for the depth positions available on the team, like a Matej Blumel or Arttu Hyry, as well as looks for guys like Mavrik Bourque or Logan Stankoven in bigger minutes. That will be important as the season goes on and those inevitable injuries happen.
The Stars will being their on-ice sessions on Thursday at the Comerica Center and team headquarters in Frisco beginning at 10 AM. I