Wednesday Dallas Stars Roundup: Lian Bichsel's Extended Rehab, Vacation Plans, and Matt Duchene's Foundation

Time off means different things to different people

The Stars play their final game before the Olympic break tonight. It’s a late one, with puck drop expected to be around 8:50pm local time against the St. Louis Blues.

Jake Oettinger will start in goal, while Ilya Lyubushkin will draw back into the lineup for Alex Petrovic. The forward lines will remain the same as they have been in recent games.

Lian Bichsel will continue his lower-body rehabilitation over the break, and we would assume that he will be activated when the NHL resumes play on February 25th. Glen Gulutzan has said for a week or so now that they wouldn’t rush Bichsel back, and the Stars have adhered to that plan.

Additionally, Gulutzan said earlier this week that the Stars are not planning to send any players down to Texas during the break to play in the AHL, so don’t expect to see any minor-league conditioning assignments for NHL players during the break.

Seven Dallas Stars players are spending the next couple of weeks in Italy to player for their respective countries, but the rest of the roster will probably be seeing some vacations, too.

Wyatt Johnston said today that he’s once again planning an international trip similar to his and Thomas Harley’s Cabo San Lucas vacation from last year. That one got derailed for the latter after Harley made Team Canada as a late injury replacement for the Four Nations Face-Off.

This time, Johnston won’t be flying out right at the start of the break. One suspects he might have given himself some slack just in case Team Canada does come calling, but he didn’t confirm that.

And Johnston will be far from the only player visiting warmer climates over the break.