Stars GM Jim Nill delivers positive Mikko Rantanen injury update on Sunday

Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill gave a positive update regarding the physical condition of winger Mikko Rantanen on Sunday.

According to Bruce LeVine, Nill explained that Rantanen, 29, will join the rest of the team in upcoming practices, with the hope that the forward will play in the last two games of the four-game road trip.

“Stars GM Jim Nill says Mikko Rantanen will join the team full-time for practice going forward and will travel with the team during the upcoming 4-game road trip,” LeVine wrote on his X account. “The hope is for Rantanen to return to play by the last two games of the trip.”

Stars GM Jim Nill says Mikko Rantanen will join the team full-time for practice going forward and will travel with the team during the upcoming 4-game road trip.
The hope is for Rantanen to return to play by the last two games of the trip.

Rantanen sidelined since Olympic semifinal, now closing in on return

After Sunday’s game against the Vegas Golden Knights, the Stars will host the New Jersey Devils at American Airlines Center on Tuesday. From there, the Texas team’s road trip will begin.

On Thursday, March 26, they will visit the New York Islanders, then two days later, on Saturday, March 28, they will visit the Pittsburgh Penguins. The next two games are the key ones for Rantanen’s return, according to general manager Nill: at the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday, March 29, and at the Boston Bruins on Tuesday, March 31.

Rantanen suffered a lower-body injury in the Olympic semifinal between Finland and Canada at the Milan-Cortina Games on Feb. 20. He has not been able to return to play since then, though he has already returned to skating in some practices.

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