It was the 1998-99 NHL season. The Dallas Stars had reached the Stanley Cup Final and were due to face the Buffalo Sabres. Despite a heartbreaking opening game that they lost 3-2 in overtime, the Stars came back strongly to win the next two games. While the Sabres leveled the scores by winning game 4, the Stars went on to win game 5 and game 6 to win their maiden Stanley Cup trophy. 26 years later, it has been the only title in the team’s history. However, Mikko Rantanen could help change this statistic soon.
Ahead of the trade deadline, the Stars acquired Rantanen from the Carolina Hurricanes. Additionally, they also tied him down to an eight-year contract worth a whopping $96 million. In exchange for Rantanen, the Hurricanes received a couple of first-round picks and a couple of third-round picks in addition to getting the services of Logan Stankoven.
Rantanen has been a top performer in the NHL and is well-renowned for his all-round play. Scoring 27 goals and 43 assists, he is tied 12th for the most points scored in the 2024-25 season, though his production slowed down while in Carolina with just 6 points in 13 games. So, the Canes were hesitant to offer him a contract extension and didn’t want to lose him to free agency, leading to the perfect opening for the Stars to sweep in.
The team is currently in the second spot in the Central Division and is well-poised to make it to the playoffs and make a deep run. Additionally, Rantanen’s trade to the Stars has also increased the odds of the Stars winning the Stanley Cup title. According to Bet365, they are the favorites to win the cup this season, with odds of +600.
After the trade for Mikko Rantanen, the Dallas Stars are now the favorites to win the Stanley Cup, according to @bet365.
Stars +600
Oilers +700
Panthers +700
Hurricanes +900
Capitals +900
Golden Knights +1000
Jets +1000
Avalanche +1000
— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) March 7, 2025
Meanwhile, Mikko Rantanen was very happy to have joined the Stars on a long-term contract. After the trade, he expressed his emotions, saying, “Really excited to be part of the group. They’ve got a really good team.” However, he wasn’t the only one to be excited after the trade. Even the Stars’ General Manager, Jim Nill couldn’t control his excitement and was all praise of Rantanen.
Stars GM points out crucial qualities of Mikko Rantanen
Although the Stars have been quite a free-flowing team in the NHL and have one of the highest goals scored this season, Rantanen adds another dimension to the team with his creativity and finishing skills. He is at the right place at the right time as often seen during his games, something which will come in handy for the Stars’ Stanley Cup chances. As a result, their General Manager was really excited to have signed Rantanen.
Talking about it, he said, “The chance to acquire and extend one of the best forwards in the NHL is an opportunity that we couldn’t pass up. He demonstrates exceptional skill and vision on the ice and his size, consistency and versatility make him one of the most complete players in the league.”
He further added, “Mikko’s experience in the postseason is an invaluable asset to our team as we work toward the goal of winning a Stanley Cup.”
Mikko Rantanen may have had a tough time of it in Carolina but his quality during his time with the Avalanche is undeniable. After all, he is already a Stanley Cup winner, claiming the trophy with the Avalanche in 2022. Thus, it’ll be interesting to see if he can guide the Stars to glory and win his second Stanley Cup this year.
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