Mikko Rantanen
Finnish forward who won the Stanley Cup with Colorado in 2022.
Mikko Rantanen is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward for the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 10th overall by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2015 NHL entry draft and won the Stanley Cup with them in 2022. After a short mid-season stint with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2025, he signed an eight-year contract with Dallas.
Rantanen began his professional career in Finland’s SM-liiga with HC TPS at age 16 during the 2012–13 season, having played for the club’s under-16 team since he was 14. In 15 games, he recorded three points (two goals, one assist). By the 2014–15 season, he was the only 17-year-old in his third year with TPS and signed a two-year extension in October 2014. Using his size and physical style, he posted a career-high nine goals and 28 points in 56 games while serving as an alternate captain. He also helped TPS’s junior team win a championship with 14 points in seven postseason games, earning Best Player honors. Rated the top European skater in his draft year, he was selected 10th overall by Colorado in June 2015.
Rantanen signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Avalanche in July 2015. After impressing in training camp and preseason, he made the opening-night roster as an 18-year-old in October 2015. He debuted in a 5–4 loss to the Minnesota Wild on October 8, playing limited minutes in six scoreless games before being assigned to the AHL’s San Antonio Rampage on October 22. In his AHL debut, he scored his first North American goal and assist in a 5–1 win over the Stockton Heat on October 24. He led the Rampage in all offensive categories and was selected for the AHL All-Star Game as the second-youngest participant in modern history. After a brief recall to Colorado, he returned to San Antonio and became just the seventh teenager to reach 60 points in 52 games, finishing sixth in league scoring. He earned a spot on the Second All-Star Team and shared the AHL Rookie of the Year award with Frank Vatrano.
Rantanen scored his first NHL goal on November 11, 2016, 1:03 into the second period against the Winnipeg Jets, a 3–2 overtime win. He recorded his first NHL hat trick on February 8, 2017, in a 4–0 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. His breakout came in the 2017–18 season with 29 goals and 55 assists for 84 points in 81 games, second only to Nathan MacKinnon on the team.
Quick Facts
- Birth Date
- 1996-10-29
- Birth Place
- Nousiainen, Finland
- Height Ft
- 6
- Height In
- 4
- Weight Lb
- 228
- Position
- Forward
- Shoots
- Left
- League
- NHL
- Team
- Dallas Stars
- Former Teams
- TPS / Colorado Avalanche / Carolina Hurricanes
- Ntl Team
- FIN
- Draft
- 10th overall
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Rantanen began his professional career in the Finnish SM-liiga with HC TPS at age 16, playing his first game during the 2012–13 season. He signed a two-year extension with TPS in October 2014 and served as an alternate captain, recording a career-high nine goals and 28 points in 56 games. Rated the top European skater in his draft-eligible year, he was taken 10th overall by the Colorado Avalanche in 2015. After a brief NHL debut in 2015–16, he was assigned to the AHL's San Antonio Rampage, where he led the club in scoring and shared the AHL Rookie of the Year award. He scored his first NHL goal in November 2016 and recorded his first hat trick in February 2017. His breakout 2017–18 season saw 84 points, and he set a career-high 87 points the following year. In 2022–23, he became the third Finnish player to score 50 goals in a season and the third Avalanche player to do so. Entering the 2024–25 season in the final year of his contract, contract extension negotiations with Colorado reached an impasse, with Rantanen reportedly seeking an annual salary around $14 million while the Avalanche were unwilling to exceed Nathan MacKinnon's $12.6 million. On 24 January 2025, he was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in a three-team deal that also involved the Chicago Blackhawks. After 13 games with Carolina, he was traded to the Dallas Stars on trade deadline day and immediately signed an eight-year, $96 million contract extension. In May 2025, he became the third player in NHL history to score a hat trick in two consecutive playoff games. He received his first NHL suspension in November 2025 after accumulating two game misconduct penalties for physical infractions.
Reader's Guide
Mikko Rantanen's career is defined by his rise from a top European prospect to a Stanley Cup champion and consistent point producer. His tenure with the Colorado Avalanche included a 50-goal season and a championship in 2022, placing him among elite Finnish scorers. The 2024–25 season marked a pivotal turning point: contract disputes with Colorado led to a blockbuster trade to the Carolina Hurricanes, where he played only 13 games before being moved again to the Dallas Stars in a sign-and-trade deal. The Hurricanes faced criticism for trading for a player they could not confidently sign, and for risking losing him as a free agent. Rantanen's immediate eight-year extension with Dallas secured his long-term future. His postseason hat trick streak in 2025 further cemented his offensive legacy. The suspension in November 2025, his first, highlighted a rare disciplinary issue in a career otherwise noted for physical play.
Did You Know?
- Rantanen made his professional Finnish SM-liiga debut at age 16 with HC TPS.
- He was the top European skater in his NHL draft year and was selected 10th overall in 2015.
- He became the third Finnish player to score 50 goals in an NHL season, after Jari Kurri and Teemu Selänne.
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