With Dallas Stars coach Pete DeBoer announcing at practice on Thursday that Finnish defenseman Miro Heiskanen has been ruled week-to-week with a knee injury, the team was gearing up to play an extended period of time without one of their key players.

The star defenseman will likely be out for months, if not the rest of the season. Expect the Stars to struggle in his absence, and to have a much better understanding of their roster when he returns.

Miro Heiskanen is week to week for the Dallas Stars with a knee injury. The timeline also means the defenseman will likely miss the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off, with will take place in Montreal and Boston from Feb. 12-20. He had been selected to play for Team Finland along with Stars teammates, defenseman Esa Lindell and forward Roope Hintz.