| | DALLAS -- Dallas Stars defenseman and captain Derian
Hatcher will be out six to eight weeks with a lacerated right calf muscle, adding to the injury woes of the defending Stanley Cup champions.
| |  | | | Hatcher |
Hatcher, 26, was placed on injured reserve Monday, three days after he
suffered the injury in Friday night's game at Edmonton. In the
second period of a 2-2 tie, he was checked by Edmonton's Todd
Marchant along the end boards.
A physical player, Hatcher is tied for sixth on the Stars with
16 points with two goals and 14 assists. He is second on the team
in assists and fourth in penalty minutes (31).
The eighth overall pick by the Stars in 1990, Hatcher signed a
four-year contract extension before last season that will pay
him $18.6 million through the 2002-03 season. Last season, he
had nine goals and 21 assists, helping the Stars win their first
Stanley Cup.
A member of the 1998 U.S Olympic team and the younger
brother of New York Rangers defenseman Kevin Hatcher, Derian Hatcher joins a handful of teammates who have
missed considerable time this season. The Stars have struggled
to a 17-13-4 mark and are tied with Anaheim and Los Angeles for
last in the Pacific Division.
Star center Joe Nieuwendyk is sidelined with a rib injury and
fellow defenseman Shawn Chambers is out indefinitely with a knee
ailment. Wings Jere Lehtinen (ankle) and Grant Marshall
(shoulder) missed Saturday's 4-2 win at Vancouver.
In addition, centers Mike Modano and Brian Skrudland and
defenseman Darryl Sydor have been sidelined. | |
 |
