Mikko Rantanen Is A Home Run Acquisition By The Dallas Stars

Mikko Rantanen Is A Home Run Acquisition By The Dallas Stars

Before I start, make sure to read up on the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline tracker that Andrew put together. All of the moves you need to know can be found here! Now that the dust has settled on everything, we can agree that the Dallas Stars were the biggest winners of the deadline, right?

Maybe some people have noticed this. If you have, credit to you for paying attention. I’ve had the Dallas Stars number one in the power rankings since the start of the season. That hasn’t changed for me during a singular month of the season including the most recent edition that got published prior to the deadline. This team is just so damn loaded and were before adding Rantanen.

The list of quality players just doesn’t end and most of them are homegrown. Robertson, Hintz, Heiskanen, Oettinger, Harley, Johnston, Duchene, etc, etc, etc. After the Rantanen addition, I don’t think there is any question that this is the best top 9 forward group in the league. Oettinger is one of the best netminders in the league and there is no question the Heiskanen / Harley one-two punch is as good as it gets to start a blue line with.

Now you’re adding the moose to this team. A guy who puts up 100-point seasons in his sleep. By the way, he already has two goals and three total points in two games since the trade. I don’t think you can discount the Finnish connection here. Rantanen has a ton of fellow countrymen that he gets to play with on this team including Roope Hintz, Miro Heiskanen, and Esa Lindell.

Oh, and the no-state tax element obviously get the extension part of the equation done. Rantanen gets locked in for a $12 million AAV, which is a totally reasonable number given the way the cap is spiking. To lock that number in long term with the cap going up the way it is has to be considered a monster win for the franchise.

Sure, the Stars paid up to get Rantanen. Two first round picks, two third round picks, and young stud Logan Stankoven isn’t exactly a small price. Although, I’d argue that you can’t overpay for great. You can certainly overpay for really good. Rantanen is truly great and is a Hall of Famer when that time comes. A true gamebreaking talent that can push this Stars team to a Stanley Cup victory. Those two first round picks are going to be at the way back end of the draft and Stankoven is 5-foot-8 and those type of guys have been exposed when playoff physicality starts to ramp up.

Dallas should be considered Stanley Cup favorites. That doesn’t mean it will necessarily happen given the unpredictability of hockey but if you’re a Stars fan, you have every reason to be fired up about what’s transpired.

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