DENVER — Mikko Rantanen tapped his heart as the video screen showed highlights in the first period of his Colorado Avalanche career, culminating with him hoisting the Stanley Cup.
On Sunday, the audience welcomed him with a blend of "Moose" chants—his nickname—and, naturally, some jeers.
Once a fan favorite, Rantanen is now a fierce rival following his arrival with Central Division-foe Dallas. And for the first time in his NHL career, Rantanen was a visitor in a building he’s called home for a decade.
Unsurprisingly, he received the loudest jeers when his name was called out for providing the assist that led to the first goal of the match for the Stars.
It's always an emotional experience," Dallas coach Pete DeBoer stated prior to the game regarding Rantanen’s comeback. "The silver lining is that you only have to go through it once, after which it stays behind you. We'll navigate this hurdle today and then proceed.
Since being traded to Carolina on January 24, Rantanen has experienced an array of emotions. This specific trade took him by surprise and separated him from his dynamic duo with Nathan MacKinnon. Selected as the 10th overall pick by Colorado back in 2015, Rantanen was anticipating contract negotiations over the summer when he became a free agent.
At the end of the day, my preference has always been to remain in Colorado," Rantanen stated on Saturday. "That was my intention, and I shared this with the management team as well. I personally informed them that I would be open-minded about it, yet I get it. There have been better players than myself who were traded throughout NHL history. These things happen; they're just a part of the game.
Rantanen was well-liked in the locker room and played a key role as the Avalanche won the 2022 Stanley Cup championship. He continues to hold several prominent positions on the team's career leaderboards, such as being ranked sixth for highest goals scored with 287.
In a three-way deal that brought Rantanen to Carolina, the Avalanche acquired forwards Martin Necas and Jack Drury.
I approached it with an open mindset, intending to stay there for the long haul," Rantanen stated. "I gave it my all.
He participated in 13 matches with the Hurricanes and scored two goals along with adding four assists.
On March 7, Carolina traded Rantanen to the Stars in exchange for forward Logan Stankoven and some draft picks. Rantanen then inked an eight-year deal worth $96 million.
I'm really pleased to be here right now," stated Rantanen after playing his fourth game with the Stars on Sunday. "This is a strong team that has performed well and achieved success over the past few seasons. They boast a talented group of youngsters along with an excellent coach, which makes this a positive situation.
He was uncertain about how he would be received by the Avalanche fans.
As I've mentioned numerous times, I never wanted to depart," Rantanen stated. "It wasn't my choice to go." He added, "I have fond recollections of this place."
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