Avalanche rival rocked by stunning health update on star forward ahead of next season
Photo credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Dallas Stars, one of the Colorado Avalanche's key divisional rivals, rocked by a shocking health update on star forward Roope Hintz, raising major questions about the team's readiness for the upcoming NHL season.
Hintz wasn't fully healthy during the Western Conference Final.
Dallas Stars rocked with massive health update concerning Roope Hintz.
Jon Alfano from Breakaway On Si writes that Hintz and the Dallas Stars have fallen in the Western Conference Final three years in a row, but this latest defeat perhaps the most punishing, both mentally and physically.
"Late in Game 2 of this year's series, Hintz took a hard slash to the foot from Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse. The Finnish forward had to be helped off the ice and did not play in Game 3. While he returned for Games 4 and 5, it was clear he wasn't at 100 percent." -Alfano
Hintz is now ready, telling reporters Friday that he's eager to get to work when the Stars' training camp kicks off next month.
«I'm feeling good. My foot is fine, and I've been able to train normally this summer. So everything is good. It's always hard if you get injured at that time of the year but you just try to find ways to get back on the ice as quick as possible. We found a good solution there and I was able to play, and I felt like normal. So it's OK. Now it's been fine after that.» -Hintz
As he prepares to return to the ice, Hintz is aiming for more than just a Stanley Cup.
Hintz got a taste of international play at February's 4 Nations Face-Off, but he knows the Olympics will be tougher. With Rantanen, Heiskanen, and Lindell already on Finland's roster, he hopes to join them in Milan this winter.
«Of course, it would be a dream come true. When you're a young kid you dream about that and you're like, 'I want to wear that jersey at some point in my life.' With the guys you have right now, I know everybody, every Finnish guy who's probably going to be on that team. It really would be so nice to be in there and play for Finland.» -Hintz
Fully healthy and back on the ice, Hintz looks ready to carry both his team and his Olympic dreams into the new season.
| POLL | ||
AOUT 27 | 23 ANSWERS Avalanche rival rocked by stunning health update on star forward ahead of next season Would you say Roope Hintz better than Mikko Rantanen? | ||
| yes | 5 | 21.7 % |
| no | 18 | 78.3 % |
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