The Dallas Stars have been hammered by injuries so far this season. But finally, some good news! They are going to get a little bit of help on Saturday night against the Minnesota Wild.
The team announced on Saturday afternoon that Jiri Hudler has been activated from injured reserve.
To make room for him on the roster the team sent Justin Dowling to the AHL.
Hudler has missed each of the past five games for the Stars due to illness. Prior to that he appeared in two games and had yet to record a point.
The Stars signed the 32-year-old Hudler in free agency over the summer to add to a forward group that -- when healthy -- is already one of the best in hockey. Even though his production dropped down to 46 points in 2015-16, he is just one year removed from a 76-point season with the Calgary Flames. He shouldn’t be expected to score quite at that level in Dallas, but he should still give the Stars some much-needed help as they try to get through an up-and-down start that has seen them go just 3-3-1 through the first seven games of the season.
One of the top offensive teams in the league in each of the past two seasons, the Stars enter Saturday’s game with only 18 goals on the season, and only nine in their past five.