Stars’ Mikko Rantanen is out for the season with a torn MCL

FRISCO, Texas — Miko Rantanen Sustained a torn MCL in his knee during the Olympics, an injury Dallas Stars General manager Jim Neal said the rest of the season has their standout forward.

Rantanen missed 15 games for the Stars after suffering an injury while playing for bronze medalist Finland in February. He returned for the final 10 games of the regular season. He had just one goal and four assists in that span, then had one goal and six assists as they lost their first-round playoff series to Minnesota in six games.

“Major injury. Back, he’s very competitive,” Neal said during his season-ending availability on Thursday. “Did he come back too soon? Not too soon, but it would have been nice to have another week or two to really settle in. He never really got going again.”

Rantanen had 21 goals and 51 assists in 54 games prior to the Olympics. The Stars got him to a deadline deal last season, signing him to a $96 million, eight-year extension and then had a remarkable postseason with nine goals and 13 assists in 18 games as they reached the Western Conference finals for a third straight year.

Dallas was done after one round this year, and Rantanen wasn’t the only player dealing with a significant injury.

Neal said Rontanen does not and will not need any surgery, and would benefit from some extended time with many of their other players.

“We haven’t had a game where we’ve had a full lineup this entire season and in the playoffs,” Neal said. “Hard to believe, I’ve never seen this before.”

The Stars also went into the offseason when the 45-goal scorer Jason Robertson Could be a restricted free agent and longtime captain Jamie Benn All in Dallas mulling a decision on whether to return for an 18th NHL season.

“We want him to be a Dallas Star for the rest of his career,” Neal said of Robertson, adding they also want Ben back.

Top line center Rupp Hintz Missed the first four games after the Olympics due to illness, then tore his left hamstring in two places on March 6 in his only game. This follows the loss to the Stars in December Tyler Seguin An ACL injury.

Miro HeiskanenTheir top defenseman, missed the final three games of the regular season after tearing an oblique and then sprained an ankle during the playoffs.

Radek Faksa He was hurt during the Olympics and then hurt his leg after being cut by a skate as he neared his comeback for the Stars. He played through the final two regular-season games and the playoffs, but Neal said the still-serious injury may require more surgery.

Midseason acquisition Michael Bunting Played in only one playoff game after suffering a groin injury late in the season.

Neal said the defenseman Nils Lundqvistwho took a skate to his face in Game 4 against the Wild, likely would have bounced back if the series had reached a Game 7.

“A very lucky man. The skate hurt him, really hurt him more than anything,” Neal said. “He had stitches in and out, but he also had seizures.”