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Stars center Rich Peverley sidelined by irregular heartbeat

Rich Peverley will be sidelined three weeks following an irregular heartbeat. (Brian Babineau/NHL/Getty Images)

Rich Peverley will be sidelined three weeks after a procedure for an irregular heartbeat. (Brian Babineau/NHL/Getty Images)

A procedure to correct an irregular heartbeat will sideline Stars center Rich Peverley for the next three weeks, according to the team.

Stars GM Jim Nill said Peverely can skate but can't participate in any contact on the ice.

Nill said the procedure included shocking Peverely's heart to get it back into rhythm. He said the Stars training staff noticed the condition while looking at Peverely's EKG during his pre-camp physical.

From The Dallas Morning News:

“It turns out he had an `a-fib’ condition,” Nill said. “He’ll be out three weeks and should be available close to the start of the season. He might miss one or two games.”

“The medical staff did a great job, they recognized this,” Nill said. “They picked it up on the EKG, and he’s going to be fine.”

Peverley, 31, came to the Stars from the Bruins as part of the trade that included Tyler Seguin. The Stars want Peverley to shore up the center position and improve the team's faceoff percentage.

“I think he’s a big part of our team,” Nill said. “He’s very versatile. You can play him up with good players, you can play him in a second, third line role. He’s very good on faceoff, you can play him on the wing. He’s won Stanley Cups, been in playoffs, he’s been to finals, and that’s the kind of experience you can’t have enough of.”

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Nill said Peverley is expected to be fine upon returning to the ice.

“For three weeks, he can skate, no contact at all,” Nill said. “After that, he’s good to go for the rest of the season.”