Sunday’s game between the Dallas Stars and the Colorado Avalanche had all the makings of a dramatic sports storyline. It featured an athlete who had been moved on from by his former team, navigating personal and professional challenges before returning to the place where he had once thrived. Now, with a point to prove, he had the opportunity to show his former team they had made a mistake by trading him.
That was the underlying narrative of the showdown between the Avalanche and the Stars. Mikko Rantanen returned to Colorado for the first time since being traded earlier in the season. However, his return did not have the storybook ending he might have hoped for, as the Stars fell to the Avalanche 4-3 in overtime.
Rantanen’s performance on the night was not his best of the season. While he managed to record an assist on Jason Robertson’s opening goal, his overall ice time for the game was just over 17 minutes. This was his third-lowest time on the ice this season, suggesting he was not at his usual level of impact.
If Rantanen had intended to make a statement to his former team and their fans, it did not go as planned. Since departing from Colorado, he has struggled to produce at the level he once did. It is understandable that adjusting to a new team can take time, and Rantanen has had to do it twice this season. However, his decline in scoring is becoming a concern. Whether his struggles are due to the mental toll of multiple trades or another underlying issue remains unclear, but there is hope that he can regain the form that made him such an integral player for the Avalanche.
Rantanen’s Performance Since Leaving Colorado
Rantanen’s numbers after his departure from Colorado illustrate his dip in performance.
His first stop after being traded was with the Carolina Hurricanes. During his time there, he played in 13 games, registering two goals and four assists. His plus-minus rating stood at minus-3, according to StatMuse. While these statistics are not terrible, they fell short of the expectations the Hurricanes had for him. Although his lack of production was not the primary reason for Carolina moving him again, his numbers were still disappointing for the team.
Since joining the Dallas Stars, Rantanen’s performance has improved slightly. He has played in four games for Dallas, recording two goals and two assists. His debut with the team was promising, as he registered two points against the Edmonton Oilers. He followed that up with a one-goal game against the Vancouver Canucks, a scoreless outing versus the Winnipeg Jets, and an assist in his return to Colorado against the Avalanche.
Given his recent performances, it appears that Rantanen is beginning to find his rhythm with the Stars. His four points in four games have all come against teams in playoff contention, which is an encouraging sign. If he can maintain this level of play, he has the potential to deliver the kind of production Dallas envisioned when they acquired him.
Despite his struggles, it would be premature to write off a player of Rantanen’s caliber. However, there is no denying that his offensive output has declined since leaving Colorado. The hope remains that he can rediscover his scoring touch and return to being one of the league’s elite forwards, as he has been for much of the past decade.