Mikko Rantanen is gearing up for an emotional and unusual night as he returns to Colorado for the first time since being traded. After spending nearly a decade with the Avalanche, the star forward was dealt to the Carolina Hurricanes in a surprising midseason move, only to be flipped again to the Dallas Stars at the trade deadline. Now wearing a Stars jersey, Rantanen will face his former team and city on Sunday at Ball Arena.
“It’s going to feel weird, for sure,” Rantanen admitted ahead of the matchup. “You spend nine or ten years in one place, you get to know the city and the people. Then, all of a sudden, you’re walking into the visitor’s room. It’s going to be different. But I’m excited to see a lot of the guys I played with over the years. It should be a fun game.”
During his time with the Avalanche, Rantanen became one of the league’s top forwards, racking up 681 points in 619 regular-season games and playing a key role in Colorado’s 2022 Stanley Cup victory. Despite expressing a willingness to take a hometown discount to remain in Colorado, he was unexpectedly moved to Carolina in January. Without a commitment to re-sign with the Hurricanes, they dealt him again—this time to Dallas, where he quickly inked an eight-year, $96 million extension, carrying a $12 million annual cap hit.
Speaking about his decision to settle in Dallas, Rantanen told reporters, “I thought about it a lot with my camp. I just felt the fit was right, both on and off the ice. That’s ultimately what led me here.”
As he steps onto the ice as an opponent for the first time in Denver, it’s unclear how Avalanche fans will respond. Still, Rantanen remains focused on his future. “I’m happy to be in Dallas,” he said. “It’s been a crazy few months, no doubt. Colorado was where I always thought I’d stay, but I understand it’s a business. They made their decision, and now I’m here—locked in for eight years with a great team and great coaches. I’m thankful Dallas believed in me.”
