It’s been a wild NHL season for Mikko Rantanen. Drama has followed him everywhere since being traded to the Carolina Hurricanes, and his stay in Raleigh was very short-lived, as he has now joined the Dallas Stars. Upon arrival in Dallas, Rantanen sent his new teammates a strong message after the 5-4 loss against the Edmonton Oilers.
Rantanen is hoping to find a home in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, after a very disappointing and brief stay in North Carolina. As he joins one of the biggest contenders in the Western Conference, the 28-year-old forward looks to make an immediate impact in the franchise that has signed him to an 8-year, $96 million contract extension.
Shortly after being traded in the NHL’s deadline day, Rantanen made his debut for the Stars. He flied across the continent, from Raleigh to Edmonton, where his new team was set to face the Oilers.
Following the disappointing 5-4 defeat at Rogers Place, Rantanen showcased his leadership abilities, sending his teammates a clear statement.
“Four down, the third [period] was obviously our best, desperate hockey, but we have to bring that earlier in the game,” Rantanen admitted postgame, via NHL.com. “Probably a little unfortunate in the first two periods, we obviously gave up breakaways, 2-on-1s, that’s not ideal against a good team like this. Most nights they’re going to finish their chances like they did today.”
Immediate impact
Rantanen gave a glimpse of what the Stars can expect from him after the blockbuster deal with the Hurricanes. The Finnish forward tallied a goal and an assist in his Dallas debut—both coming on the power play—as he quickly showcased his impact on the Stars’ special teams.
However, Rantanen and the Stars’ efforts fell short. Edmonton surged to a 5-1 lead following Johnston’s tally, and although Dallas pulled within one in the third period, the Oilers held off the visitors and secured crucial points in their race for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Jet lag
The loss snapped Dallas’ four-game win streak, but they’ll have a quick chance to bounce back as the Stars visit the Vancouver Canucks tonight. Rantanen may feel the impact of the back-to-back, with last night’s game fatigue compounded by the long travel across the continent and the psychological toll of trade rumors over the past few weeks.
“Never mind flying across the country from Carolina here to make sure he’s here tonight for the game, that’s a big ask,” Stars head coach Pete DeBoer said after the game. “And tomorrow night with the back to back, that’s even tougher. I really liked what I saw and he’s going to fit really well with us.”