Mikko Rantanen had spent his entire career with one franchise before an unexpected trade in January sent him elsewhere. Now with the Dallas Stars, the 28-year-old forward shared that leaving the Colorado Avalanche was never part of his plan.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Rantanen revealed that he had been in discussions with the Avalanche front office about staying with the team long-term. However, despite his willingness to be flexible in negotiations, he was suddenly traded to the Carolina Hurricanes.
“Six weeks before the deadline, we were still negotiating, and I felt it was important to speak with the front office in person,” Rantanen explained. “I told them I’d be flexible and that I wanted to stay here for a long time. A couple of days later, they traded me.”
Rantanen:
"6 weeks before the deadline, we were still negotiating at that point and I felt at that time I needed to go talk to front office, which I did, face to face. I told them I'll be flexible and I want to play here for a long time. Then a couple days later they traded me."
— Aarif Deen (@runwriteAarif) March 15, 2025
Rantanen was sent to Carolina in a blockbuster trade on January 24, bringing an end to his 10-year run with the Avalanche. However, his time with the Hurricanes was brief. After just 13 games, he was traded again, this time landing with the Dallas Stars at the deadline.
Addressing speculation about his decision, Rantanen dismissed the idea that choosing Dallas was based on family considerations. “I heard something about it being a family decision, but that’s not true at all,” he clarified. “At the end of the day, it was purely a hockey decision about my career. My family will go wherever I choose to play.”
Following the trade, Rantanen secured his future with the Stars by signing an eight-year, $96 million extension. He has already made an impact with Dallas, contributing three points (two goals, one assist) while playing on the top line.
“I didn’t want to be a rental or risk hitting free agency, so this allowed Dallas to get value from me,” Rantanen explained. “They’re a strong team, which was one of the reasons I had them on my list. I’m really happy to be here now.”
Rantanen will face his former team for the first time on Sunday when the Stars travel to Denver to play the Avalanche. “It’s definitely going to feel strange,” he admitted. “After spending nearly a decade in one organization and getting to know the city, it’s a big adjustment. Now, I’ll be on the other side, sitting in the visitors’ locker room—it’s going to be different.”
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