The incident occurred with just 27.3 seconds left in regulation during the Islanders’ 3–2 win over the Dallas Stars. Rantanen delivered a forceful boarding hit from behind, sending Romanov violently into the end boards. The defenseman had to be helped off the ice and was later diagnosed with a shoulder injury requiring surgery.

Rantanen has officially been suspended one game by the NHL following two game misconducts in less than a week, including a controversial hit on Romanov, who had already missed games earlier this season due to injury, now faces a long recovery that could sideline him for the remainder of the regular season.

How will the NY Islanders adjust without Romanov?

This update is a major blow to the Islanders’ defensive core, as Romanov had recently signed an eight-year extension and was expected to be a key contributor. The team will need to adjust quickly, relying on depth players and defensive pairings to fill the gap left by one of their top blueliners. How head coach Patrick Roy reorganizes the lineup could determine whether the Islanders can maintain competitiveness in the coming months.

Controversy around Rantanen’s hit

The hit by Rantanen continues to generate debate across the league. While Romanov’s injury underscores its severity, the league’s decision to suspend Rantanen for one game after multiple recent misconducts highlights ongoing concerns about player safety and enforcement consistency in the NHL.

What’s next for Romanov and the Islanders?

With Romanov sidelined for 5–6 months, the Islanders face a challenging stretch as they navigate the remainder of the regular season. The NHL team will need contributions from younger defensemen and a reinforced focus on minimizing risky plays.

The Islanders’ next game is today, Sunday, at 6 p.m. ET against the Seattle Kraken, while Romanov begins rehabilitation with hopes of returning strong for the next season.

In less than a week, Rantanen delivered two vicious hits on defenseless opponents against the boards, earning himself game misconducts in both occasions. According to NHL rules, the Stars’ key player must be automatically suspended by the league.

“Rantanen will most likely be suspended at least one game for violating NHL rule 23.6, which states ‘any player who incurs a total of two game misconduct penalties in the Physical Infractions Category, before playing in 41 consecutive regular season league games without such penalty shall be suspended automatically for the next league game of his team,'” as reported on The Dallas Morning News.

Now, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety has announced Rantanen will be automatically suspended for one game, with no further discipline being assessed on the Finnish star for his recent actions.

Stars will miss Rantanen

Following the official suspension announcement from the NHL, Rantanen will miss just one game in the 2025-26 season for the Stars. For several fans around the league, it isn’t enough. However, for the fanbase in the Lone Star State it’s more than sufficient.

Up next, Dallas (13-5-4) will take on the 10-9-5 Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place. As if Rantanen couldn’t miss a bigger game in the NHL campaign, he is set to be sidelined when the two sides collide in a heated rematch of last season’s Western Conference Final.

Outcry around the NHL

Though Rantanen will miss one game, many fans across the league are calling for a harsher punishment. The fact that he has been assessed two game misconducts in less than a week suggests the NHL may have had to step in and make a statement with its verdict. Instead, it seems Rantanen has gotten off with little more than a slap on the wrist.

Of course, the title won’t be on the line until the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but regular-season meetings can paint a good picture of where each side stands. Rantanen’s Stars hope to be at their best when McDavid and the Oilers walk into American Airlines Center. Edmonton will visit Dallas twice next season, but on November 4, the Stars have already begun preparing a special theme night.

When the Oilers and Stars meet for the first time since the 2025 Western Conference Final, Dallas will greet fans with Rantanen memorabilia. “On Tuesday, November 4 early arriving fans have the opportunity to grab a one-of-a-kind Mikko Rantanen bobblehead,” the Stars announced, via NHL.com.

Bad blood

Though not particularly close in a map, the Stars and Oilers hold a grudge for one another. Obviously, the hatred is bigger in Dallas, as McDavid and Edmonton have had the best of them in consecutive NHL postseasons.

Not content with eliminating the Stars at the gates of the Stanley Cup Final in 2024, the Oilers did it all over again in 2025. Edmonton defeated Dallas in six games during the 2023-24 Playoffs, only to one-up themselves and knock the Stars out in five games during the 2024-25 postseason.

They say third time’s the charm, so Rantanen and company have one argument to hold onto if their paths cross with McDavid and the Oilers once again. Still, another rematch could only pave the way for an even bigger humiliation at the hands of Edmonton.

Something to prove

Edmonton may have the upper hand over Dallas, but it isn’t much better off either. While the Oilers are the Stars’ tormentors, they can’t say the same for the Florida Panthers, who have beaten them twice in a row in the Final.

If anything, the Oilers aren’t too eager to match up with the Stars either, because history shows that when they do, the Cats tend to be waiting in the final round—and that only spells bad news for Edmonton.

Ahead of the 2025-26 NHL season, the Stars have now signed Nathan Bastian to a one-year, $775k contract. The former New Jersey Devils‘ depth forward provides a boost to the team’s bottom six. As reports suggest, it could also signal the end of an era in the 214, and the beginning of a new one. As the saying goes: when one door closes, another one opens. On that note, the Stars’ championship window is anything but shut.

DeBoer’s tenure with the Stars couldn’t survive the turbulent waters that hit Dallas during the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. In a do-or-die Game 5 against the Oilers, DeBoer made the final call that dug his own grave. Pulling Jake Oettinger after allowing two goals on two shots was the kiss of death for DeBoer’s time in the Lone Star State.

New era

Now, Rantanen and company are under the guidance of Glen Gulutzan, whose gameplan is starting to show in the organization’s offseason moves. After signing former Devils forward Bastian to a one-year deal, reports indicate the decision has been made to move on from DeBoer’s antics.

“This signing further signals a change in approach we’ve been anticipating, too,” Robert Tiffin stated on Stars Thoughts. “After a few years of Pete DeBoer rolling out Craig Smith and Evgeni Dadonov for some sneaky goal-scoring from the right wing in the bottom six, the signing of Bastian may reflect Glen Gulutzan’s ideas about what else lower lines need to bring.

“With a bit more focus on heavy forecheckers arriving at the right time, as opposed to looking for a better finisher who waits for a stretch pass in the neutral zone.“

Projected lines

• LW: Jason Robertson – C: Roope Hintz – RW: Mikko Rantanen
• Matt Duchene – Wyatt Johnston – Tyler Seguin
• Jamie Benn – Sam Steel – Mavrik Bourque
• Oskar Back – Radek Faksa – Colin Blackwell

According to Daily Faceoff, Dallas could employ Bastian as an extra, calling his number when needed. Despite a strong defensive production with the Devils, the 27-year-old forward will have to earn his spot in the lineup as the Stars boast one of the best rosters in the NHL.

Defensemen

• Esa Lindell – Miro Heiskanen
• Thomas Harley – Ilya Lyubushkin
• Lian Bichsel – Nils Lundkvist

The move, which helped Stars‘ GM Jim Nill win the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award for the third consecutive year, put Dallas in a strong position to succeed. The team fell just short of a Stanley Cup Final appearance though, with Rantanen and company losing in five games to Connor McDavid’s Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference Final.

Needless to say, the goal in Dallas for the 2025-26 NHL season will be none other than getting over the hump to try and bring the trophy home. However, winning the Stanley Cup may not be the only thing on the Stars players’ minds next year, according to Rantanen.

Rantanen knows the Olympics will be a talking point in Dallas

With NHL players returning to the Winter Olympics, Rantanen already predicts the Milano Cortina 2026 event to be a big talking point with his teammates in Dallas during the next NHL season.

“Let’s see how many (Dallas) Stars players will be named to their respective teams,” Rantanen said on Monday, via the NHL’s official website. “Once we know the rosters, I’m pretty sure there will be a lot of Olympic talk in our room.”

Rantanen among Stars called up to the Olympics

Rantanen is among six players selected to Finland’s preliminary roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics. That list includes Stars teammates Miro Heiskanen and Esa Lindell as well as Aleksander Barkov―captain of the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions Florida Panthers―Juuse Saros of the Nashville Predators and Sebastian Aho, with whom Rantanen overlapped on the Hurricanes.

Finland will kick off the men’s ice hockey tournament in Milano Cortina 2026 when they take on Slovakia on February 11. Group B rivals also include Sweden and the host Italy, with the gold medal game set for February 22.

Pyotr Kochetkov, one of the standout players under Rod Brind’Amour, was blunt when addressing the team’s situation — acknowledging that the departure of extraordinary talent from the roster may have held back the team from reaching an even higher level.

Although Rantanen had a brief stint with the Hurricanes after being traded from the Colorado Avalanche, his level of play impressed everyone within Carolina’s facilities — though unfortunately, the excitement didn’t last long.

“We lost Rantanen, Necas – it would be stupid to turn a blind eye to that, because they are key players, leaders of the team,” the goalie said via sports.ru. “Even though Rantanen did not become a leader for us, you saw what he did in Dallas. You could say he led the team to the second round when he beat Colorado in Game 7.”

“He was a high-level player. You see how he acts, how he sees the game. Even in the training process, there was something to learn from him,” Kochetkov also added. “He is a great professional, he has been playing in the league for a long time. There were many interesting things that he did – his routine. Overall, I can only speak positively about him.”

Necas was another departure Kochetkov openly lamented

The Carolina Hurricanes traded forward Martin Necas to the Colorado Avalanche as part of a three-team blockbuster deal in January 2025. This move came after a season of trade speculation and a short-term contract that did not fully resolve his long-term future with the team.

While Necas provided a high-skill offensive presence and speed, his departure was a significant shake-up to the Hurricanes’ forward group.

In exchange for Necas and other assets, the Hurricanes acquired Mikko Rantanen from Colorado and Taylor Hall from the Chicago Blackhawks. The expectation was that Rantanen would provide the elite goal-scoring that the Hurricanes felt they lacked.

However, Rantanen’s tenure was brief, as he was subsequently traded to the Dallas Stars at the trade deadline after failing to agree on a contract extension, which complicated the team’s forward situation.

The Avalanche have yet to agree on an extension with Martin Necas. The 26-year-old forward arrived in Denver as part of the three-team trade that shipped Rantanen away to Carolina. While the Moose’s stay in Raleigh was short-lived, the Avs are hoping Necas won’t follow suit.

Still, MacKinnon’s Avalanche hasn’t seen much progress so far. As it stands, the former first-round selection will enter a contract year during the 2025-26 NHL campaign. Colorado can’t help but think about last season’s drama, when Rantanen was set to become an UFA.

For what it’s worth, the Avalanche have experience in this department now. They should’ve learned from their past mistake and know how to handle MacKinnon’s star teammate this time around—at least, that’s what insider Frank Seravalli believes.

“I would assume they’re working on Martin Necas and a contract extension, because amazingly enough they’re kind of right back in the same situation that they were with Mikko Rantanen. They’re kind of in a very similar cap situation,” Seravalli said on Bleacher Report Insider Notebook. “They’ve had to make very difficult decisions.

“Are they really going to go in to another season with another player one year away from unrestricted free agency? And having to make that call midseason? It’s a really uncomfortable spot for them to be in.“

It all comes back to that trade

Obviously, the Avalanche must move forward and focus on the road ahead. The landscape in the Western Conference has only grown tougher. The Rantanen trade is water under the bridge—or so Colorado likes to tell itself. But when all is said and done, everything tends to trace back to the domino effect sparked by The Moose’s shocking departure.

“If Necas goes north of point-per-game next season, with the rising cap, aren’t the Avs really looking at an average annual value (AAV) that begins with $10 million? And if it does, wouldn’t the Avalanche have been better off with keeping Rantanen at $12 or $12.5M? That’s certainly within the realm of possibility Rantanen would’ve signed for in Colorado, and underlines the position that the Avs are in moving forward,” Seravalli concluded.

Where to next for Georgiev?

Alexandar Georgiev is definitely not a name that fans in Colorado relate with too many bright memories. Aside from his first season in town, the goaltender struggled consistently in The Mile High City. Last season, the 29-year-old was traded to the San Jose Sharks, where his performance wasn’t any better.

Georgiev is currently an unrestricted free agent, awaiting for a call to put him off the unemployed list in the NHL. However, reports suggest he’d have to sign a much cap-friendlier contract than his previous three-year, $10.2 million deal.

“The 29-year-old will certainly have to take a pay cut from the $3.4 million he’s earned in each of the past four seasons,” The Hockey News’ Adam Proteau stated. “But in the right circumstances, Georgiev could provide some value and support for a younger goalie tandem.“

With a solidified defense and an effective tactical system, Carolina has shown interest in adding speed and creativity to its offensive zone. The departure of key figures like Rantanen forced the Hurricanes to explore alternatives, seeking opportunities to add proven talent without compromising their young core.

In that context, Carolina finally managed to bring in forward Nikolaj Ehlers, who arrived as a free agent. However, recent information suggests that the Canes had been persistent in previous attempts, drawing attention for their sustained pursuit.

Carolina’s Pursuit of Ehlers

According to Elliotte Friedman on the “Real Kyper and Bourne” show, the Carolina Hurricanes had “at least twice tried to acquire forward Ehlers” when he was still a member of the Jets. After weeks of speculation and amid the player’s desire to move on, the Hurricanes were ultimately able to complete the signing.

Nikolaj Ehlers wrapped up a successful 2024–25 season with 63 points (24 goals and 39 assists) in 69 games for the Jets, establishing himself as one of the league’s most consistent forwards. After the season, he declined to re-sign with Winnipeg and became a free agent on July 1, drawing strong interest from the Hurricanes—who had even attempted to trade for him earlier—and ultimately agreed to a six-year, $51 million deal.

Ehlers’ Role in Carolina

Ehlers is expected to slot immediately into the Hurricanes’ top-six forward group. His presence could inject speed and depth into the offense, something Carolina has especially sought during the playoffs, where timely goals have often eluded them. In this case, persistence paid off, and now the team hopes to see the results on the ice.

Despite entering this summer as one of the most productive pending UFAs, Duchene declined to test NHL free agency. Instead, he agreed to return to Dallas on a new deal, opting for continuity in a system and environment that brought him personal and professional satisfaction.

The decision, as Duchene explained, wasn’t just about hockey. It was about balance, family, and trust. His connection with teammates — like Mikko Rantanen, who emerged as a key offensive partner — helped seal his choice.

His decision wasn’t driven by money or fear of change. It was fueled by something simpler: appreciation for what he already has. “A lot of people would love to play for the Dallas Stars, and I’m a guy who gets to, so I didn’t want to mess around with that,” Duchene said in a recent interview with team reporter Mike Heika. “You have a chance to win here, and that’s the most important thing for me.”

Stability over uncertainty

Speaking publicly for the first time about his decision to stay in Dallas, Duchene made no secret of his reasons. “My two years with the Stars so far have been fantastic, and other than not winning the Stanley Cup, I don’t think it could have gone any better,” he added. “I’m really hungry to keep pushing forward to reach the ultimate goal, and I think this is the best place to do that.”

In 2023-24, Duchene logged 65 points in 80 regular-season games, including 25 goals — a strong bounce-back performance after his buyout. More importantly, he formed immediate chemistry with Rantanen, who praised Duchene’s adaptability and leadership during their playoff push.

Not just a hockey decision

Dallas also offered something else: a real chance to contend. With a deep core that includes Roope Hintz, Jason Robertson, Jake Oettinger, Mikko Rantanen and Miro Heiskanen, the Stars remain firmly in win-now mode. Duchene believes he can be a major piece in their quest for a Stanley Cup.

Rather than shy away from criticism, Duchene addressed the need for growth and how past failures have shaped his outlook. “For me, I think the last two years have been a learning process in the playoffs,” Duchene admitted. “Now I feel I can use what I’ve learned in the playoffs and apply it going forward. And I feel really good about getting the chance to do it with this team.”

The 2024-25 NHL season has just wrapped up, yet teams are already working toward building stronger rosters for the next campaign. Dallas is one of them, having already made a major move earlier this year that stunned the league.

In March, the Stars announced they had signed Mikko Rantanen to a lucrative eight-year, $96 million contract extension that runs through the 2032-33 season. Now, the Western Conference franchise has locked in another key piece—one of Rantanen’s top teammates.

Stars sign Rantanen’s top teammate for the 2025-26 NHL season

Success has largely eluded the Stars since their Stanley Cup win in 1999. With fans growing increasingly impatient, the franchise has stepped up efforts to build a title-contending roster.

Their boldest move came with the acquisition of Mikko Rantanen. In March, Dallas pulled off a blockbuster trade with the Hurricanes, sending Logan Stankoven, a 2026 first-round pick, a 2028 first-round pick, a 2026 third-round pick, and a 2027 third-round pick in exchange for the Finnish winger.

Following his arrival, Rantanen immediately signed an eight-year extension. But the Stars know that one star isn’t enough to lift the Cup—which is why they’ve secured another key forward to support him.

On Thursday, Dallas announced a one-year contract extension for captain Jamie Benn. The veteran was set to become a free agent, but the new deal ensures he’ll remain with the team through the 2025-26 season.

Benn, drafted by the Stars in the fifth round back in 2007, has become a cornerstone of the franchise. In 1,192 career games, he has tallied 399 goals and 557 assists, cementing his legacy as one of the team’s all-time greats.

Will Jamie Benn retire in 2026?

The one-year extension may hint that the 2025-26 campaign will be Benn’s final season. The Canadian forward turns 36 this summer, and questions remain about whether he plans to continue playing beyond next year.

There’s no doubt Benn’s presence will be missed when he eventually steps off the ice. From a late-round draft pick to franchise icon, he’ll be hoping to close out his career by lifting the Stanley Cup for the first time.

As part of their preparation ahead of a new campaign, some moves are driven more by financial considerations than on-ice performance. This is the case for the Stars, who have cleared a significant portion of salary cap space to stay aggressive in the offseason and preserve the core built around Rantanen.

This move comes shortly after the Stars locked in Duchene with a four-year, $18 million contract extension, carrying an annual average value of $4.5 million. The Dallas franchise is now positioned to address roster needs during the offseason.

The player the Stars traded to the Kraken

The player dealt by the Stars to the Kraken is none other than forward Mason Marchment, who heads to Seattle in exchange for two draft picks: a third-rounder in 2026 and a fourth-rounder in 2025. The deal was confirmed by NHL.com.

The veteran forward carried a $4.5 million cap hit for the upcoming season and was entering the final year of his contract. The trade provides salary cap relief and reflects a financially driven decision heading into the 2025–26 NHL season.

Marchment’s stint with the Stars

Mason Marchment joined the Dallas Stars in July 2022 as a free agent and proved to be a valuable contributor over his three seasons with the team. During the 2024–25 campaign, the 30-year-old veteran recorded 22 goals and 25 assists in 62 games.