The Stars will be missing a key offensive weapon in the season opener.
DALLAS - Following Thursday's morning skate, head coach Pete DeBoer confirmed that forward Roope Hintz won’t be in the Stars' lineup against the Blues at American Airlines Center tonight.
Hintz, 26, continues to deal with an upper-body injury that prevented him from playing during the exhibition schedule.
The Finnish sniper was a key offensive weapon for DeBoer and company last season with his second consecutive 37-goal campaign and a career-high 75 points.
"He's making a lot of progress. I think it was close. I think if it's a playoff game, he's probably playing, but we have five days after tonight [until our next game] so the risk-reward of it didn't make sense," said DeBoer.
A second-round selection of Dallas in 2015 - 49th overall - Hintz has 117 goals and 245 points in 312 career NHL games.
For their part, fellow forwards Wyatt Johnston and Radek Faksa will play after battling their respective injuries.
Here is the projected lineup for Dallas:
Puck drop is 7:00 p.m. CT.
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