Matt Duchene has been placed on LTIR (Imagn Images) Matt Duchene was sidelined early in his new four-year deal, his season temporarily derailed by an injury. The timing could not have been worse. The Dallas Stars expected him to be a key driver again this year after a standout campaign, but a forceful open-ice hit on October 14 against the Minnesota Wild changed everything. Former Ottawa Senator Matt Duchene has been placed on long-term injured reserve following that fierce collision, and what first looked like a short setback has now extended well into a second month.On Monday, with recovery still dragging, the Stars moved him to long-term injured reserve while he works through an upper-body injury. The hit came as he rushed through the neutral zone with his head down for a pass and was caught cleanly by former Ottawa 67’s captain Jake Middleton. Duchene tried to return earlier in the season but struggled each time. He left the Minnesota game and missed the next one against Vancouver, played against St. Louis where things worsened, and hasn’t appeared since.
Matt Duchene injury leaves Dallas searching for answers
The situation carries frustration because Duchene met every expectation last season. He played all 82 games and led the Stars in scoring with 82 points, showing durability and consistency that made his new four-year deal at 4.5 million dollars per season look like a steal. Now, only three games into that contract, he finds himself stuck on the sidelines again.The good news is that Duchene has already met the long-term injured reserve requirements of 10 games and 24 days, making him eligible to return whenever his body allows. But health has not been kind. Duchene was considered day-to-day at first, yet he has already missed 14 games. As the team waits, his LTIR placement could open the door for Jamie Benn’s return. Benn has been recovering from surgery for a collapsed lung suffered in late September.Duchene’s season totals so far sit at one goal, one assist, three shots on net, four blocked shots and two hits in four appearances. For a player known for pushing pace and driving offense, watching from the press box is a harsh turn. Dallas hopes the next update finally leans toward progress.More NHL coverageMaple Leafs’ $20M dilemma deepens as Adrian Kempe signs in L.A., leaving Toronto scrambling for elite optionsWilliam Nylander’s alarming cold spell deepens as Leafs winger records zero shots in consecutive games for first time in years