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Jim Nill reveals injuries to 13 Stars players during Stanley Cup run, including Ben Bishop and Tyler Seguin

The Stars' general manager said Anton Khudobin already had surgery

There is clarity on what injuries the Stars battled through on their way to the Stanley Cup Final.

Stars general manager Jim Nill updated reporters on the status of a host of players who missed time during the postseason (like Ben Bishop and Stephen Johns), along with players who fought through injuries across the Stars' 27-game run that ended with a loss to Tampa Bay in Game 6 of the Cup Final on Sept. 28.

Here is a list of the injury updates provided by Nill on Thursday.

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Ben Bishop

Bishop underwent knee surgery in late May, a procedure that Nill said was delayed because of hospital availability during the coronavirus pandemic. Bishop participated sparingly in workouts during June and July, but the Stars shut him down after testing his progress during the playoffs.

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“In the end, he just didn’t have enough time to heal,” Nill said. “It did not feel comfortable at all.”

Bishop played just three postseason games in Edmonton, and none after Game 5 against Colorado on Aug. 31. He didn’t dress in any of the last 13 Stars playoff games despite practicing with the team throughout that time. In Bishop’s place, Anton Khudobin started 24 of the team’s 27 playoff games.

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Bishop’s status was in question since training camp began in mid-July. Bishop missed the first day of camp, and then was off the ice for the last two days of practice in Frisco. In Edmonton, he played in the exhibition against Nashville and the round-robin opener against Vegas but was unfit to play the final two round robin games, and then again beginning with Game 4 against Calgary.

In his three playoff games, Bishop allowed 12 goals on 77 shots (.844 save percentage).

Jamie Benn

The Stars' captain battled through a shoulder injury late in the season. The injury bothered Benn some in the playoffs, but he still played all 27 games and scored 19 points (eight goals, 11 assists).

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“I can’t say it was 100%,” Nill said. “But it’s got time to heal now, and it should be fine.”

Note: Nill initially mispoke and said Benn had surgery on his shoulder. A Stars spokesperson later clarified that Nill meant Benn had a shoulder injury, and not shoulder surgery.

Stephen Johns

In January, Johns returned to the ice following 22 months away from hockey due to post-traumatic headaches. He missed the entire 2018-19 season and the first 47 of the 2019-20 season. Because of his return to the ice, Johns was named a Masterton Trophy finalist.

But Johns didn’t feel comfortable playing for the majority of the postseason, Nill said. It’s unclear whether Johns will decide to retire. Nill was noncommittal on the defenseman’s playing future Thursday.

Johns missed the final 23 games of the postseason, and didn’t play after Game 1 against Calgary in the first round. Taylor Fedun initially replaced Johns, but Joel Hanley occupied the third pairing for the Western Conference final and the Stanley Cup Final.

Tyler Seguin

Seguin did not miss a game once the first round against Calgary began (he was unfit for the exhibition against Nashville and the round-robin finale against St. Louis), but was not 100% through the Stars run to the Stanley Cup Final.

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Nill said Seguin dealt with a lingering knee issue, which started before the league suspended play amid the pandemic in March, and he then suffered a torn labrum in his hip this summer.

“He’s now looking at different options for surgery," Nill said. Because the surgery will require at least four months of rehabilitation, Nill said Seguin will not be available to start next season if it starts Jan. 1, the NHL’s current target date.

Seguin finished the playoffs with two goals and 11 assists. In Games 4 and 5 of the Cup Final, Seguin totaled five assists against the Lightning. He was goalless for the last 15 games of the playoffs.

Anton Khudobin

As the 34-year-old became the Stars' primary playoff goalie, Khudobin dealt with numbness in his hands while gripping his stick, Nill said.

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He underwent surgery Wednesday to readjust the nerves, and is expected to return to full strength in about four or five weeks. Khudobin, who will be a free-agent this offseason and plans to test the market, recorded a .917 save percentage during 25 playoff games.

Miro Heiskanen

While the Stars' 21-year-old phenom didn’t miss time during the postseason, Nill said Heiskanen injured his hip during the Western Conference final and “fought through that and then got better as [we] went on.”

Heiskanen led the Stars with 26 points in the playoffs but tallied just four during the Cup Final.

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Radek Faksa

Faksa suffered a broken wrist in Game 3 of the Western Conference Final against Vegas when he collided with Alex Tuch. He did not play in the final eight playoff games, missing the entire Cup Final against Tampa Bay.

Roope Hintz

Hintz missed the last two games of the Cup Final after he was tripped into the boards by Lightning forward Tyler Johnson. In the Western Conference final, Hintz suffered a fractured ankle, but he “was getting that shot up” to manage the pain while playing on the injury, Nill said.

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When Hintz was tripped in the Final, he injured his hip area, Nill said, and was not able to return before the season ended.

Hintz blocked a Mikhail Sergachev shot with his right foot in Game 1.

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He also blocked a shot with his right arm in Game 2 against Vegas, and collided awkwardly with Corey Perry in Game 4 against the Golden Knights.

Blake Comeau

Comeau did not play in the last four games of the Cup Final after he suffered a separated shoulder on a hit by Ryan McDonagh in Game 2 against the Lightning.

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Jason Dickinson

The Stars were unsure Dickinson would be able to play in the last two games of the Stanley Cup Final because of a foot and ankle injury. He was receiving injections to help manage the pain and at a point couldn’t get his skate on, Nill said.

Dickinson didn’t miss time, but appeared hobbled as he combined for nearly 39 minutes on the ice in Games 5 and 6.

Esa Lindell

The defenseman didn’t miss a game during the postseason, but Nill said Lindell “fought through” a hand injury he suffered early in the playoffs.

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Taylor Fedun

Fedun was unfit to play for four games with a knee injury, beginning with Game 7 against Colorado. Joel Hanley took his place on the third pairing and played the remainder of the playoffs.

John Klingberg

Klingberg did not play the round robin game against Colorado on Aug. 5 with a shoulder injury, but played the final 25 games.

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