Matt Duchene out three months after core surgery

The Stars center cannot play while on injured reserve, making him a drop in all fantasy formats.

By Fantasy Roundup Staff · October 12, 2026 · Updated October 12, 2026

Matt Duchene cannot play. The Dallas center will miss approximately three months after surgery to repair a core injury, the Stars announced Monday. He has not played this season and was placed on injured reserve before opening night.

With no return date and three months on the shelf, Duchene has no value until he is activated. His recent averages of 0.83 points per game and 1.7 shots per game become irrelevant while he sits out.

Fantasy impact

Player by player

Matt Duchene

Duchene cannot play while on injured reserve, and his three-game week goes to zero for as long as he is out. He averaged 0.83 points per game recently with 0.28 goals and 0.55 assists, adding 1.7 shots and 0.25 power-play points per game. He logged 16:57 per night with 2:21 on the power play, ranking sixth among all Stars skaters in power-play time.

His underlying play grades 11 out of 100 among forwards for shots, scoring chances and ice time, a read on how sustainable his scoring was before the injury. Mikko Rantanen and Jason Robertson stand to benefit from his absence. With approximately three months until he can return, Duchene should be dropped immediately in all fantasy formats.

What to do

• Drop Matt Duchene now that he is out for three months.

• Monitor Mikko Rantanen and Jason Robertson for extra opportunity with Duchene sidelined.

• Do not roster Duchene again until he is activated from injured reserve.

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