Fourteen Minutes That Answered the Big Question
Tyler Seguin stepped back onto NHL ice Friday night for the first time in nearly ten months, logging 13 minutes and 57 seconds as the Dallas Stars defeated the Minnesota Wild 2-1 in preseason action. The appearance offered the clearest evidence yet that the Stars centre is ready to contribute when the 2026-27 regular season begins — and it ended months of uncertainty that had hung over one of Dallas's most important players.
The road back started December 2, 2025, when Seguin tore the ACL in his right knee during a loss at the New York Rangers. Surgery followed on December 16, and the 34-year-old missed the remainder of the season after registering 17 points in 27 games. Dallas went on to reach the second round of the playoffs before losing to Colorado in six games, the offence leaning more heavily on Wyatt Johnston and Jason Robertson in his absence. Throughout the summer, the timeline on Seguin's return remained stubbornly open-ended, with camp updates offering encouragement but no guarantees.
Careful Deployment, Positive Signs
At Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Seguin skated on the second line and received power-play time. Head coach Pete DeBoer managed the minutes carefully, but nearly 14 shifts worth of NHL-pace contact was enough to settle the most pressing question around his recovery. Thomas Harley and Radek Faksa scored for Dallas; Casey DeSmith was solid with 26 saves. Joel Eriksson Ek provided Minnesota's sole response, with Jesper Wallstedt stopping 16 of 18 shots in the loss.
Speaking after the final buzzer, Seguin described the outing as feeling like "your first game all over again." When reporters asked about his availability for the regular-season opener, he stayed noncommittal. Dallas opens at American Airlines Center on October 2 against the St. Louis Blues, giving Seguin a week of further practice to build on Friday's foundation. DeBoer offered no firm commitment but said the appearance was a positive step and gave no indication of a setback.
At full fitness, Seguin is expected to anchor the second line, providing the scoring depth Dallas has identified as essential to a serious playoff run. Without him last season, the team's attack was flatter through the middle of the lineup, and opponents were more able to focus defensive attention on the first line. His ability to generate offence at even strength and operate on the power play makes the difference between a dangerous roster and a truly complete one.
PanoramaSeguin Set for Preseason Return After Nine Months Out With ACLFaber Exits as Minnesota Takes Its Own Blow
The Wild suffered a scare of their own on Friday. Defenceman Brock Faber left after the second period after absorbing a puck to the head. Minnesota listed the exit as precautionary and said the 22-year-old would be assessed before the regular season. Faber emerged last year as one of the most reliable young blue-liners in the Western Conference, logging heavy minutes in all situations, and his status adds a note of tension to Minnesota's final preseason preparations.
Final Preseason Day Before Tuesday's Opener
Friday's games were part of the penultimate night of NHL exhibition play. Saturday, September 26, closes out the preseason with 14 games across the league — the largest single-day slate of the entire schedule. The 2026-27 regular season officially opens Tuesday, September 29, with Carolina hosting Florida and Toronto welcoming Montreal among the first wave. Dallas opens on October 2.
Whether Seguin is in the lineup that night depends on the seven days of preparation still ahead. Friday's 13:57 removed nearly every doubt about the direction of his recovery; the next question is simply how quickly he can return to full form against opposition that counts.
