What Mikko Rantanen learned from a double-trade 2024-25

NEW YORK — After 11 seasons as one of the NHL’s leading scorers, Mikko Rantanen Have become addicted to fame.

But slander? Not so much, although he has experienced plenty of it this season.

Rantanen recently first suspension served In his NHL career, two game misconducts for physical violations automatically resulted in a one-game ban.

NHL rules state that players must play 41 games between ejections to avoid a suspension. Rantanen’s second ejection for boarding calgary flames Ahead Matt CoronatoThis came four days after his first ejection on a play, causing Rantanen to face widespread ridicule from fans – and a very angry coach as well.

On November 18, Rantanen skated through a check. New York Islanders guard Scott Mayfield and pushed the rescuer Alexander Romanov From behind, sending him violently into the end boards. As a result of that game, Romanov underwent shoulder surgery that would put him in danger of at least five months,

Rantanen did not receive a hearing with the NHL Player Safety Department for any of these misconducts, but he heard a lot from Islanders coach Patrick Roy after Romanov’s hit. It was a scene that instantly went viral: Rantanen walking off the ice after his big penalty and a red-faced Roy yelling at him from the New York bench.

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Mikko Rantanen was ejected for a nasty hit on Alex Romanov.

Alex Romanov fell to the ice after Mikko Rantanen’s push with less than a minute left in regulation.

“Normally if something happens, if someone gets angry, the media picks up on it,” Rantanen told ESPN on Tuesday. “So I’m not really surprised it got so big.”

Roy, who called the hit “disgraceful”, appeared to yell at Rantanen, saying “You’re not going to finish that game” in reference to the teams’ rematch on March 26 on Long Island.

Is Rantanen worried about what might happen in that game?

“No, no, no,” he said. “I’m just going to play out there, work hard, play hockey and see what happens for me. But I’m the bigger man. So I can stand up for myself.”

But notoriety wasn’t just for Rantanen in 2025. Earlier this year, thanks to two blockbuster trades, he became one of the most talked-about players in the NHL.

Rantanen was playing For colorado avalanche in a contract year. His salary demands remained high – rumored at the time to be around $14 million annually for one of the league’s foremost scoring wingers and assist-producing player. Colorado wins the Stanley Cup in 2022,

Avalanche GM Chris McFarland shocked the hockey world trade it till carolina storm In a blockbuster deal on January 24, the Canes were the leading scorers. martin necks Sent back into the Avalanche. McFarland called it a “business decision” involving a player who “had an unrestricted free agent card” but he regretted losing “a superstar human being.”

However, Rantanen’s time with the Hurricanes was incredibly short. Carolina hoped to convince him to sign an extension – to meet his salary demands – and put down roots in Raleigh. But after 13 games, the player the Hurricanes hoped could lead them to the Stanley Cup was traded againThis time with Dallas, in a deal that included the young forward logan stankoven,

Carolina GM Eric Tulsky said at the time, “As far as I can tell, my understanding was that it doesn’t feel like home for him. And that’s OK. He’s making an eight-year commitment.”

For Rantanen it was a baffling, sometimes humbling experience. He wanted to stay in Colorado. He quickly became aware of how much was out of his control. It was no surprise that Rantanen’s contract with Dallas spanned eight seasons (for a total of $96 million) and included an outright no-movement clause.

“You always learn from those tough moments, whether it’s on the ice or anywhere in life,” he said. “You always learn from those moments when you’re going through tough times.”

The dual trade season and new monster contract raised questions around the NHL about whether Rantanen was really worth the lure. Was he a superstar away from the Avalanche? Was he a franchise level player?

“A lot has been written about him. A lot has been said about him,” then-Stars coach Peter DeBoer said after last season. “There are a lot of people out there who are skeptical, based on the situations he’s been in and how it’s been viewed at different points.”

Rantanen began to answer those questions in the Stanley Cup playoffs, leading the Stars back to the conference finals for the third consecutive season – which also included a seven-game, first-round elimination of their friends from Colorado. Rantanen had 22 points in 18 playoff games, including a difficult stretch in which he had nine goals and eight assists over a six-game span.

dallas is home nowRantanen and his girlfriend Susanna Raanta got engaged in the offseason, No contract matter was leaked, No trade chaos, For his relief, just play the game,

“We are organized and know where we need to be,” he said. “You don’t have to think as much about off-ice things. You can just focus on hockey. It’s become more comfortable.”

Dallas has benefited from Rantanen’s comfort. He has 33 points in 25 games, including 10 goals. That included 18 points on the Stars’ rushing power play, which was second only to Pittsburgh heading into Tuesday’s game. New York Rangers,

winger jason robertson Said having Rantanen for a full training camp was key to that unit’s success. “After the trade deadline last year you really didn’t have time to develop that look, that chemistry,” he said.

At 5-on-5, Rantanen has been found to be a good fit with the center. wyat johnsonJoe was tied with Robertson for leading the Stars with 16 goals. Like nathan mackinnonAn Avalanche star with whom Rantanen had explosive chemistry, Johnston is a right-shot center.

“Obviously I had a lot of success last year playing [Roope] hintz And [Mikael] GranlundThey’re two lefties, so it’s not the end of the world,” Rantanen said, “But playing as a right wing with Nate in the past, it’s more common for me to make plays and stuff, [Johnston] Really a good player. He can score goals. We get along very well with each other. Obviously this takes some time. We haven’t played together for so long, so we can still get better, but it’s going in a good direction.”

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Mikko Rantanen took full advantage of the power play

Mikko Rantanen scores on power play for Dallas Stars

Rantanen has played with Johnson and the Dallas captain jamie benn Lately, that is to say, the Finland native hasn’t been playing with his countryman Hintz. When he was traded to the Stars last season, Rantanen joined Hintz, a defenseman colloquially known as Dallas’ “Finnish Mafia”. miro heiskanen And isa lindellAnd Granlund, who left for Anaheim as a free agent last summer. He played on a line with Hintz and Granlund for most of the playoffs.

There are moments when the Finns flock together. Like at the end of a recent morning skate, when they were speaking their native tongue during a Suomi-only shooting drill. But Dallas players say Rantanen has also dashed some expectations.

Robertson said, “Normally, most of our Finnish guys are relatively quiet and whatever. Mikko comes here and he’s a big, loud and happy guy. There’s just a different dynamic.” “He obviously fit in very well, and everyone welcomed him.”

Ahead tyler seguin Knew Rantanen only as a rival before the trade. A larger opponent, 6 feet 4 inches and about 230 pounds. Seguin said that having Rantanen as a teammate gives a closer glimpse of “how rough he is and why his nickname is this”, referencing Rantanen’s nickname “Moose” in Colorado.

“He’s a big guy,” Seguin said.

But Seguin also appreciates what a charismatic teammate he is.

Seguin explained, “I knew him as a skilled big forward who produced a lot of offense and points with Colorado. Having him here as a teammate, I learned what a good person he is. How much he can impact our locker room with his leadership.” “Sometimes, people come in and don’t feel comfortable talking. He does. So it’s good.”

Rantanen brings sizeSkills and personality for Dallas. He also brings a superstar quality to the franchise as “one of the elite power forwards in the game,” as GM Jim Neal described him last March.

Dallas coach Glenn Gulutzan, hired to replace DeBoer in the offseason, coached two other elite forwards edmonton oilers‘Bench as assistant coach: connor mcdavid And leon draisaitlGulutzan said Rantanen is “definitely up there” in terms of comparable star quality,

“The most interesting thing I’ve found is coaching Mikko and then coaching Leon and Connor: The similarity is their fire. Their competitiveness. And that’s what you want, right?” Gulutzan said. “They’re very hard on themselves, just to be great every night. That’s what I’ve really seen. I didn’t know that much with Mikko, but now that I’ve had a chance to coach him, you can just see that drive and that intensity.”

Rantanen is trying to lead the Stars to the Stanley Cup Finals after losing three consecutive conference finals, and lead Dallas to its first Cup win since 1999. He has found the right fit with a team committed to him for the long term. But during last season’s turmoil he learned a lesson the hard way: never take anything for granted.

He said, “Last year was like nothing I’ve experienced before. Hopefully it’ll never happen again.” “But if it happens, I’m ready.”