Mikko Rantanen Receives Mixed Reaction in First Game Against Avalanche Since Trade
DENVER — As highlights of his time with the Colorado Avalanche played on the big screen, culminating in him lifting the Stanley Cup, Mikko Rantanen tapped his chest in acknowledgment.
Sunday’s crowd responded with a blend of cheers—many calling out his nickname, “Moose”—and some inevitable boos.
Once a beloved figure in Denver, Rantanen is now a divisional rival after being traded to the Dallas Stars. For the first time in his career, he stepped onto the ice at Ball Arena as a visitor, facing the team and fans he had played in front of for nearly a decade.
The loudest boos came when he recorded an assist on the Stars’ opening goal.
“It’s always emotional,” Dallas head coach Pete DeBoer said before the game. “The good news is you only go through it once. After today, it’s behind us.”
Rantanen’s journey has been an emotional whirlwind since being dealt to Carolina on January 24. The trade, which split up his dynamic duo with Nathan MacKinnon, came as a surprise to him. The 2015 tenth overall pick was set to become a free agent this summer and believed contract negotiations were ongoing.
“At the end of the day, I always wanted to stay in Colorado,” Rantanen admitted Saturday. “That was my plan, and I told the front office I was willing to be flexible. But I get it—better players than me have been traded before. It’s part of the business.”
A fan favorite and key contributor to Colorado’s 2022 Stanley Cup run, Rantanen left his mark on the franchise, ranking sixth all-time in goals with 287.
As part of a three-team trade, the Avalanche received forwards Martin Nečas and Jack Drury, while Rantanen landed in Carolina. He initially embraced the change, hoping to stay long-term, but after just 13 games—where he tallied two goals and four assists—the Hurricanes moved him to Dallas on March 7 in exchange for forward Logan Stankoven and draft picks. Shortly after, Rantanen signed an eight-year, $96 million contract with the Stars.
“I’m very happy here now,” Rantanen said Sunday, ahead of his fourth game with Dallas. “This is a strong, successful team with a great young core and an excellent coach. It’s a good place to be.”
Leading up to the game, he wasn’t sure how Avalanche fans would react.
“I’ve said it before—I never wanted to leave. It wasn’t my decision,” Rantanen reflected. “But I have great memories here.”
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