Dallas Stars Place Mikko Rantanen on IR After Olympic Injury

Team also provides updates on other Olympians returning to roster

Feb. 23, 2026 at 10:56pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Dallas Stars have placed forward Mikko Rantanen on injured reserve after he sustained a lower-body injury while playing for Finland in the Winter Olympics. The move is retroactive to Feb. 20 and means Rantanen will miss at least a week. The Stars also provided updates on other Olympians returning to the roster, including goaltender Jake Oettinger who will not play on Wednesday due to travel logistics.

Why it matters

Rantanen is a key player for the Stars, so his injury could have a significant impact on the team's performance as they return from the Olympic break. The updates on other Olympians provide insight into the Stars' roster and lineup decisions as they get back to regular season play.

The details

The Stars announced on Monday that Rantanen has been placed on injured reserve due to a lower-body injury he sustained during Finland's Olympic semifinal matchup with Canada. The injury kept Rantanen out of Finland's bronze medal game against Slovakia. Placing him on IR opens up a roster spot for defenseman Lian Bichsel to be activated, as he has been out with a lower-body injury since Nov. 30.

  • Rantanen's injury occurred on Feb. 20 during the Olympic tournament.
  • The Stars placed Rantanen on IR on Monday, Feb. 23.
  • The Stars return to play on Wednesday, Feb. 25 against the Seattle Kraken.

The players

Mikko Rantanen

A forward for the Dallas Stars who sustained a lower-body injury while playing for Finland in the Winter Olympics.

Glen Gulutzan

The head coach of the Dallas Stars who provided updates on the team's Olympians returning to the roster.

Jake Oettinger

The Stars' goaltender who won't play on Wednesday due to travel logistics after returning from the Olympics.

Radek Faksa

A Stars player whose playing status is still uncertain after sustaining an injury while representing Czechia in the Olympic tournament.

Lian Bichsel

A Stars defenseman who has been out with a lower-body injury since Nov. 30 and will be activated with Rantanen's IR move.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.