Stars defenseman Nils Lundkvist is still looking to realize his full playoff potential

It was only four days ago when Nils Lundkvist was reflecting on his long road to becoming an impact player in the playoffs.

In a conversation with The Dallas Morning News, Lundkvist thought back to his first four seasons in the league and how he spent more time sidelined than in the lineup during the postseason — but felt those deep playoff runs with both the Dallas Stars and New York Rangers prepared him for a larger role this spring.

“It was obviously different,” Lundkvist said. “I played like 2-3 minutes every night, and you can’t really do anything. But you’re still kind of in it. You’re in the same routine as everyone else. You see what it really is. And I think every experience you have is beneficial. I think you learn a lot.”

This playoff run was supposed to be Lundkvist’s shot to capitalize on a larger opportunity dangled in front of him. But a freak injury in Game 4 in Minnesota Saturday night has jeopardized the defenseman’s spot on the ice this series.

With just under seven minutes left in the second period of Dallas’ 3-2 overtime loss to the Wild, Lundkvist tripped Wild forward Michael McCarron. The forward’s left skate sliced Lundkvist across his left cheek, sending him down the tunnel as blood dripped from his face. Lundkvist was called for a tripping penalty on the play and never returned.

Stars coach Glen Gulutzan didn’t have an update on his health either Saturday postgame or Sunday afternoon. He did say that Lundkvist did not need to go to the hospital, indicating the frightening injury wasn’t as severe as it could have been.

Nevertheless, it’s yet another example of how Lundkvist hasn’t been able to catch a break in his early NHL career, especially in the playoffs.

After playing 25 games in his rookie season with the Rangers in 2021-22, Lundkvist didn’t appear in the postseason, but joined the Rangers on their run to the Eastern Conference finals as a Black Ace.

That offseason, the former first-round pick was traded to Dallas for two draft picks and appeared in 60 games in the regular season before being scratched for the rest of the season and the entire playoffs.

In his second season in Dallas, he fought to earn trust from head coach Pete DeBoer, but never fully could. Lundkvist was in and out of the lineup, playing 59 regular-season games and 12 in the playoffs, but averaged just 4:28 per night of ice time. The Stars effectively used five defensemen whenever he was in the lineup.

Last season, when it seemed Lundkvist was on track to earn a bigger role down the stretch of the season and in the playoffs, he underwent season-ending shoulder surgery in February.

He nearly worked his way back in the playoffs and might’ve played if Dallas had advanced past the Western Conference finals. He’s known as one of the most physically fit players in the locker room and hardest workers. But he still had to wait another year for his opportunity.

This season hasn’t come without adversity either. Lundkvist was out for nearly two months early in the season with a lower-body injury, but worked his way back and solidified his role in Dallas’ top four. He posted 11 points (three goals and eight assists) in 52 games, was plus-12 and averaged a career-high 16:29 of ice time. He also earned a two-year contract extension earlier this month worth $1.75 million annually.

“He’s a real pro,” Gulutzan said earlier this postseason. “He comes in, he’s your fittest guy, and he digs in all summer. He’s a professional. He works at his game. He works at his craft. And you can see, he’s grown. … It’s a credit to him. It’s credit to how much time he’s put in and the way he studies the game that he’s having the success.”

Gulutzan identified Lundkvist as a player capable of stepping into a larger role ahead of this season. He and Mavrik Bourque were two young players who maybe hadn’t reached their full potential under the previous coaching staff. Both took steps forward this season, with Lundkvist and Thomas Harley proving to be a reliable second pair on the blue line, and Bourque reaching 20 goals.

“The opportunity was there, I feel like. They showed trust in me early,” Lundkvist said. “You need the trust to be out there, so yeah, it’s obviously big.”

If Ludkvist is unable to play in Game 5, or out for even longer, the Stars will feel it. They certainly did in the overtime loss Saturday where the five defensemen started to look tired in the overtime period and struggled to get clears because of it. A defensive breakdown late in the overtime period left Matt Boldy open in front of the net, setting up the game-winning goal.

The Stars could turn to Alexander Petrovic, Kyle Capobianco or Ilya Lyubushkin if they need a replacement for Lundkvist. Capobianco may be closest to Lundkvist in terms of his two-way abilities, but Petrovic and Lyubushkin can slot in on the right side.

Petrovic, despite spending most of 2023-25 in Cedar Park, appeared in 24 playoff games for the Stars, earning his full-time spot on Dallas’ roster this season. He may be where Dallas turns first.

But the Stars will be eager to get Lundkvist back on the ice. He already has two points in these playoffs, recording two assists in Game 2.

The Stars are ready to see his full playoff potential once road blocks stop getting in his way.

Stars defenseman Nils Lundkvist is still looking to realize his full playoff potential

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