Drama seems to be never-ending surrounding Mikko Rantanen’s brief tenure with the Carolina Hurricanes during the 2024-25 NHL season. Shortly after being traded to the Dallas Stars, the Finnish star dropped a bold message, denying Carolina head coach Rod Brind’Amour’s statement.
Rantanen has lived in three different cities in 2025 alone, seemingly aiming for some kind of record in the NHL. However, as he arrived in Dallas-Fort Worth, the 28-year-old decided he won’t be moving anywhere, as he signed an eight-year contract extension, locking his address in the Lone Star State.
Dallas is excited to have Rantanen in town for the next eight years, especially considering the high interest for the star forward in the NHL. However, much has been said about Rantanen recently, and the comments haven’t been neccesarily the best publicity for the Finnish.
After his former coach in Carolina, Brind’Amour, issued a blunt confession about Rantanen’s desire to play elsewhere than in Raleigh, the new Stars winger broke silence, sending out a clear statement.
Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod brind’Amour looks on during an NHL game.
“I want to make it clear that I was open-minded in Carolina and really thought about staying there,” Rantanen stated, as reported by NHL.com. “I saw some things were said that I had a list of teams ready when I went [to Carolina], but that’s false. Obviously, it was a big shock to leave Colorado, but I went [to Carolina] with an open mind and tried my best on the ice.”
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Hurricanes HC Rod Brind’Amour breaks silence on failed Mikko Rantanen experience: ‘He didn’t not like it here’
Brind’Amour puts Rantanen on blast
During an appearance on The Adam Gold Show, Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour sent out a bold admission about Rantanen’s arrival in Raleigh, stating he didn’t intend to stay with the organization.
“When (Rantanen) showed up he said ‘there’s 4 teams I’ll go play for, and you’re not one of them. There hasn’t been one guy that’s left because they didn’t like it here, except for Mikko,” Brind’Amour revealed during the podcast. “We probably should’ve known before we made the deal. Maybe that changes how we go about things.”
Drama-filled trade deadline
The hours leading up to the trade deadline—and the day itself—were among the most stressful of Rantanen’s career, as uncertainty about his future loomed. Ultimately, the Stars and Hurricanes struck a deal, sending Rantanen to one of the top Stanley Cup contenders.
Mikko Rantanen #96 of Team Finland stands at attention during the national anthems prior to the game against Team Sweden in the 4 Nations Face-Off game at the Bell Centre on February 15, 2025 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
“When I put the jersey on there, I tried my best and just decided just a little bit before the Deadline that Carolina would probably get a better return for me if I would do a sign and trade; that it would be better for their team rather than me being a rental and going somewhere to play. So that was the decision.“
Unfortunately for fans, the Stars and Hurricanes won’t face off again in the regular season, meaning a highly-anticipated showdown between Rantanen and Brind’Amour’s side will have to wait—either for a potential Stanley Cup Final matchup or the 2025-26 campaign, though by then, the animosity may have cooled.
