Dallas Stars fans got the news they were dreading Monday: veteran forward Matt Duchene underwent surgery to repair a core injury and is expected to miss roughly three months. Duchene hasn’t appeared in a game this season, first dealing with a lower-body injury in training camp before a setback right before the opener landed him on long-term injured reserve, which guaranteed at least a 10-game absence.

At 35 years old and in his 17th NHL season, Duchene is in his third year with Dallas. He contributed 45 points in 57 games last season, making him a meaningful part of the Stars’ forward depth. His absence puts pressure on the rest of the lineup to fill that offensive gap while the team navigates a competitive Western Conference race.

The bright side for Dallas is the calendar. A three-month timeline that starts in mid-October could have him back on the ice well before the stretch run, giving the Stars time to adjust and, hopefully, get healthy for the games that matter most. Who do you think needs to step up in his absence?