Huge blow for Matt Duchene before he even plays a game this season

The Dallas Stars were gearing up for Friday's season opener against the St. Louis Blues with optimism, but a troubling injury update has put a damper on the mood heading into opening night.

Head coach Glen Gulutzan revealed on Wednesday that Matt Duchene has experienced a setback with his lower body injury. The veteran forward has been placed back in a maintenance program as a result.

Gulutzan reportedly said Duchene is doubtful for Friday's contest, which is far from the news the organization wanted to hear just days before the puck drops on the 2026-27 campaign.

The timing could hardly be worse. Season openers carry an energy and importance that teams want their full roster available for, and losing a player of Duchene's caliber before the first shift of the year is a significant blow.

With Duchene likely sidelined, Gulutzan indicated the Stars are preparing to dress 11 forwards and seven defensemen against St. Louis. That adjusted lineup configuration suggests the coaching staff is not expecting a last-minute recovery.

The nature and severity of the lower body issue remain somewhat unclear, though the use of the word "setback" implies this is not a new problem. Duchene had apparently been dealing with the ailment previously, and whatever progress he made was not enough to keep him on track for opening night.

There has been no official word yet on how long Duchene might be out or whether the maintenance program is expected to be a short-term fix. The Stars have not provided a concrete timeline.

Dallas will look to start the season strong without one of its experienced forwards, and Gulutzan will have to shuffle his lines to compensate. The hope is that Duchene's absence will be brief, but until more details emerge, uncertainty hangs over the situation.