Stars coach DeBoer rips Baddock’s ‘dirty’ hit on Hintz in pre-season

Watch as Dallas Stars centre Roope Hintz get laid out by a late open-ice hit from Minnesota Wild forward Brandon Baddock, leading Jerad Rosburg to jump to his aid; Hintz would return to the game in the second period.

Dallas Stars head coach Pete DeBoer had some choice words for Minnesota Wild forward Brandon Baddock, who came close to injuring Stars standout Roope Hintz in a pre-season game Thursday night.

“It’s a dirty play. Liberties taken with a really good player, that’s unnecessary,” DeBoer said following Dallas’ 5-2 loss.

“That’s the kind of stuff we’re trying to get out of the game.”

The incident occurred midway through the first period when Hintz made a play to keep the puck in Dallas’ offensive zone. Moments after the puck left his stick, Baddock delivered a hit that caught Hintz off-guard.

Hintz left the game with 12 minutes left in the period, but returned to start the second and played the rest of the game.

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Following the hit, Stars defenceman Jerad Rosburg stepped up to fight Baddock, who received a game misconduct after he accidentally struck a linesman.

Hintz, 25, was third in Stars scoring last season with 37 goals and 35 assists in 80 games.

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