One of the eight NHL playoff series, the Colorado Avalanche versus the Dallas Stars, had a story that should teach the professional sports world a lesson.
In recent years Colorado has been a powerhouse in the NHL, winning the Stanley Cup in 2022. On the are a handful of superstars that led these couple years of dominance. Nathan MacKinnon, arguable top three player in the league; Cale Makar, arguably the best defensemen in the league, and Mikko Rantanen, one of the best forwards in the league.
Superstars are a prize treasure in sports, and the idea of protecting your superstars and treating them the best you can has been evident over the years of hockey history. Wayne Gretzky holds the highest point total in a career and is the only player in the league to have his number retired league-wide. To keep Gretzky safe and scoring, the Edmonton Oilers employed players with the sole job of protecting him.
Mikko Rantanen got to see the other side of this idea. Playing along side Nathan MacKinnon, the idea that Rantanen’s stats were skewed wasn’t out of the question, but he still pushed the needle and helped them lift the Stanley Cup. Rantanen is a consistent 30-40 goal scorer, scoring 55 goals in 2022-2023, and a two-time 100 point scorer.
Rantanen’s story gets more interesting, though. During the 2024-2025 season on Jan. 24, Rantanen was apart of a trade that sent him to the Carolina Hurricanes. This was seen as, “a block buster trade that never was expected to happen,” according to Graham Williams, a Williston senior and avid hockey fan.
Greg Wyshynski, a writer for ESPN, explains that the NHL, “does not see this level of offensive superstar traded within the regular season; nor does it see teams with designs on the Stanley Cup move on from foundational core players like Colorado did with Rantanen.”
This trade was so unexpected even Rantanen himself had no idea of the possibility that he would be moving to Raleigh. “I thought it was going to be an extension for sure. I can’t lie about that,” Rantanen told ESPN.
Adding to the already league-wide drama, Rantanen would only last in Raleigh for 42 days. Carolina, after deep discussion, found that Rantanen did not enjoy his time in Carolina, and moved him to the Dallas Stars.
Rantanen would get interviewed by TSN about his situation going from Carolina to Dallas, saying that his decision was made based off of where he wants to be in the future.
“I think at the time, obviously I had to look at all the options,” he said. “I had to really think about my life for a long period of time.”
All of this would lead into the first round of the NHL playoffs where the Colorado Avalanche and the Dallas Stars would meet. This series would go to seven games, and Rantanen and Dallas would take the series. Rantanen showed up when it mattered and scored 12 points in eight games, leading the way for Dallas.
Graham was more then entertained by this competitive series.
“Aves and Stars was what I thought the most exciting series,” Graham said. “I think the story line was incredible; Mikko Rantanen kicking his old team out of the playoffs shows how powerful the Stars are and how they can go far in the Stanley Cup playoffs.”
Liam Barry, a day student from Worthington, Mass., believes that Mikko is a player that you have to treat like a prized possession.
“For me he is an untouchable,” Liam said. “I don’t think you should trade a player that means so much for your team while you are searching for another Stanley Cup.”
Other series in the first round include; Winnipeg vs. St. Louis, Edmonton vs. Los Angeles, Las Vegas vs. Minnesota, Toronto vs. Ottawa, Tampa Bay vs. Florida Panthers, Washington vs. Montreal, and Carolina vs New Jersey. The winners coming out of these series include; Winnipeg, Edmonton, Las Vegas, Toronto, Florida Panthers, Washington, and Carolina.
