USA TODAY Sports

Mikko Rantanen Sends Message Ahead of Avalanche Revenge Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sean Treppedi | Last updated Mar 13, 2025 4:47 PM ET

The dust has settled on the Mikko Rantanen trade drama that seemingly has lasted all winter-long.

First getting traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in January and now set to embark on an eight-year extension as a Dallas Star, Rantanen is moving forward without question on who is willing to pay him.

He'll get a chance to play the Colorado Avalanche for the first time on Sunday since getting traded after establishing himself as a 100-plus point scorer in the NHL in the course of a decade.

The Stars will be visiting the Avalanche as they hold a five-point lead on them in second place of the Central Division.

"It's going to be weird, for sure," Rantanen said. "You spend 9-10 years in one organization, and you get to know the city and then change comes and then you have to go back there and play in the visitors room, so it's going to be different. But it's good to see all the players that I got to know over the years. It should be a fun game to play against your old friends."

Rantanen has amassed 690 points (291 goals, 399 assists) across 634 regular-season games, along with 101 points (34 goals, 67 assists) in 81 Stanley Cup Playoff appearances.

He played a key role in the Avalanche’s 2022 Stanley Cup run.

Now joining a Stars team that reached the Western Conference Final last season, Rantanen has a chance to prove he was worth the extension with more meaningful playoff hockey in front of him.

"Guys like that in the prime of their careers just don't get moved very often and they sure don't get moved in the division, even though it was a roundabout way," Stars head coach Peter DeBoer said. “… Those guys just don't become available and when they do you have to act, and (general manager) Jim Nill did and our owner (R. Thomas Gaglardi)."

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: