Story Summary
Tyler Seguin described rehabilitation from right-knee ACL surgery as the most challenging injury of his NHL career while speaking at the Dallas Stars Foundation’s Drive Fore the Kids event. Seguin injured his right knee on Dec. 2, 2025, had surgery two weeks later and suffered a setback in mid-June that briefly halted his skating. He has since been skating with teammates at the Stars’ practice facility in Frisco, while his participation in the captain’s skate was reported last week. He declined to commit to being ready for the Stars’ season opener against the St. Louis Blues on Oct. 2, saying he is taking things “one day at a time.”
Key Facts
- Tyler Seguin injured his right knee on Dec. 2, 2025, during a 3-2 overtime loss at the New York Rangers.
- Seguin underwent ACL surgery two weeks after the injury.
- Seguin experienced a setback in the middle of June that required him to stop skating temporarily.
- Seguin has since been skating with teammates at the Stars’ practice facility in Frisco; his participation in the captain’s skate was reported last week.
- Seguin declined to commit to being ready for the Stars’ season opener on Oct. 2, saying, “One day at a time.”
- Last season Seguin played 27 games and had 17 points before the ACL injury ended his campaign.
- General manager Jim Nill said Seguin is ” back on the ice,”” feeling good” and at the nine-month mark for an ACL injury.
- Seguin has a history of significant hip surgeries: a right hip arthroscopy and labral repair on Nov. 2, 2020, after a labral tear during the 2020 Stanley Cup Final run, and a December 2024 operation to repair left-side femoroacetabular impingement and a left hip labrum.
- Following his December 2024 hip surgery, Seguin returned for the final game of that regular season and played in all 18 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
IHM Discussion
Seguin’s description of his ACL rehabilitation as the most challenging of his career underlines both the physical and mental demands of a long recovery. The forward has navigated two significant hip operations in recent seasons – a right hip arthroscopy and labral repair in November 2020 and surgery to repair left-side femoroacetabular impingement and a left hip labrum in December 2024. The ACL injury, sustained on Dec. 2, 2025, came after 27 games in which he produced 17 points. He underwent surgery two weeks later, then suffered a setback in mid-June that forced a temporary halt to skating. That interrupted progression helps explain why Seguin and the Stars are avoiding a firm timeline. Jim Nill said Seguin is back on the ice and at the nine-month mark, while Seguin declined to commit to the Oct. 2 opener and stressed a day-by-day approach.
Why It Matters
Seguin’s status matters to the Stars for several reasons. He was a primary contributor before his December injury – Nill noted Seguin was roughly the team’s third leading scorer at the time – and his versatility in recent seasons, shifting between centre and right wing while taking draws and penalty-killing minutes, has been valuable. How and when Seguin returns will affect depth and matchup options for coach Glen Gulutzan, and the length of his absence would shape the roles of other forwards early in the season. Beyond the immediate roster calculus, Seguin’s experience with multiple major procedures underscores the unpredictable nature of long-term injury management for veteran players and the need for tailored rehabilitation plans.
Mini Q&A
When did Tyler Seguin injure his ACL?
Seguin sustained the right-knee ACL injury on Dec. 2, 2025, during a 3-2 overtime loss at the New York Rangers.
Did Seguin have surgery for the ACL?
Yes. Seguin had ACL surgery two weeks after the Dec. 2 injury.
Has Seguin returned to skating?
Yes. He has been back on the ice in recent weeks at the Stars’ practice facility in Frisco and participated in the captain’s skate.
Did Seguin experience any setbacks in his recovery?
Yes. He reported a setback in the middle of June that forced him to stop skating for a period, though he said he has since been ” trending in the right direction.”
Is Seguin committed to playing the Stars’ season opener on Oct. 2?
No. Seguin declined to commit to being ready for the Oct. 2 season opener, saying he is taking the process ” one day at a time.”
What is Seguin’s recent injury history?
In addition to the recent ACL, Seguin tore his labrum during the Stars’ run to the 2020 Stanley Cup Final and had right-hip arthroscopy and labral repair on Nov. 2, 2020; in December 2024 he had surgery to repair a left-side femoroacetabular impingement and left hip labrum, and returned for the final game of that regular season and all 18 playoff games.
Coach Mark Comment
Seguin’s versatility at centre and right wing, along with his work on draws and the penalty kill, gives Dallas options when he is ready to return. The immediate priority is a measured return to game readiness rather than attaching his recovery to a fixed date.
What Comes Next
The next clear date on the calendar mentioned is the Dallas Stars’ regular-season opener against the St. Louis Blues on Oct. 2. Seguin has not committed to being available for that game and said he will take the process one day at a time.
IHM Final View
Seguin’s candid description of his ACL rehabilitation, coupled with a summer setback and a careful approach to returning, points to steady progress rather than a fixed deadline. He is skating again and said he is trending in the right direction, while Nill noted that he is back on the ice. The Oct. 2 opener is the next concrete date mentioned, but Seguin has not committed to being available.