Mikko Rantanen's highly anticipated debut with the Dallas Stars came amid heightened expectations following his trade from Carolina, making the Stars frontrunners for the Stanley Cup. Despite a narrow 4-3 overtime victory over the Anaheim Ducks, concerns linger about the team's defensive capabilities, especially in the absence of key defenseman Miro Heiskanen, sidelined since January due to a knee injury. Coach Pete DeBoer acknowledged the real possibility of entering the playoffs without Heiskanen, who has been instrumental in past playoff runs.

The impact of Heiskanen's absence is evident, with goalie Jake Oettinger's recent performance plummeting below his career averages. The Stars may need to embrace a scoring-heavy approach, relying on Rantanen and Mikael Granlund, who recently excelled with two goals, to lead the offensive charge. DeBoer emphasized the importance of chemistry and identity as they prepare for a challenging playoff landscape, hinting at the need for a quick adaptation from newcomers like Rantanen.