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If you would have told NHL fans that star forward Mikko Rantanen would be on the winner’s side of the handshake line after the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, most would have assumed the Colorado Avalanche would have a date with one of the top two seeds in the Central Division in Round 2.
However, that’s not the case after Colorado traded Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes in January, who then flipped him to the Dallas Stars at the NHL trade deadline in early March.
Now four months after being jettisoned from the only NHL team he knew, Rantanen is moving on to chase his second-ever Stanley Cup while the Avalanche will get an early jumpstart on their offseason.
To pour salt in Colorado’s wound, Rantanen scored a third-period hat trick in Saturday’s Game 7 win to seal the victory for his new team, which gave him an eight-year, $96 million contract extension that the Avalanche reportedly weren’t willing to pay him.
Colorado Avalanche left wing Gabriel Landeskog (92) hugs Dallas Stars right wing Mikko Rantanen (96) after the Stars defeats the Avalanche in game seven of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center.Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
After Dallas’ win, both teams joined the handshake line to congratulate one another on an entertaining series, and Rantanen got to say bye to his former team one last time.
When the 28-year-old shared an emotional embrace with Avalanche captain and close friend Gabriel Landeskog, fans flocked to social media to talk about the sting of watching their former offensive star move on.
“This is sweet but wow does it hurt,” one fan wrote.
“Brothers for life but such a huge mistake for @Avalanche to let him go….karma he ends up on Dallas and beats them with 8 points in the last 2 games and a game 7 third period hat trick from behind 2-0 to knock his old team out,” another fan pointed out.
“Imagine the Avs Core have to be pissed, regardless of the outcome tonight they had to be furious he was traded and obviously they’re all still very close,” a third fan noted.
“Bro had the biggest revenge game and series in NHL history,” one user commented.
“Maybe I cried a lil.. who knows..,” remarked another.
Rantanen scored five goals and 12 points in seven games against his former team, while Landeskog notched one goal and five points in five games after returning from a three-year layoff while battling multiple knee injuries.
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However, that’s not the case after Colorado traded Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes in January, who then flipped him to the Dallas Stars at the NHL trade deadline in early March.
Now four months after being jettisoned from the only NHL team he knew, Rantanen is moving on to chase his second-ever Stanley Cup while the Avalanche will get an early jumpstart on their offseason.
To pour salt in Colorado’s wound, Rantanen scored a third-period hat trick in Saturday’s Game 7 win to seal the victory for his new team, which gave him an eight-year, $96 million contract extension that the Avalanche reportedly weren’t willing to pay him.
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Colorado Avalanche left wing Gabriel Landeskog (92) hugs Dallas Stars right wing Mikko Rantanen (96) after the Stars defeats the Avalanche in game seven of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center.Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
After Dallas’ win, both teams joined the handshake line to congratulate one another on an entertaining series, and Rantanen got to say bye to his former team one last time.
When the 28-year-old shared an emotional embrace with Avalanche captain and close friend Gabriel Landeskog, fans flocked to social media to talk about the sting of watching their former offensive star move on.
“This is sweet but wow does it hurt,” one fan wrote.
“Brothers for life but such a huge mistake for @Avalanche to let him go….karma he ends up on Dallas and beats them with 8 points in the last 2 games and a game 7 third period hat trick from behind 2-0 to knock his old team out,” another fan pointed out.
“Imagine the Avs Core have to be pissed, regardless of the outcome tonight they had to be furious he was traded and obviously they’re all still very close,” a third fan noted.
“Bro had the biggest revenge game and series in NHL history,” one user commented.
“Maybe I cried a lil.. who knows..,” remarked another.
Rantanen scored five goals and 12 points in seven games against his former team, while Landeskog notched one goal and five points in five games after returning from a three-year layoff while battling multiple knee injuries.
Related: Mikko Rantanen Makes NHL History in Stars’ Game 7 Win Over Avalanche
Related: Matthew Tkachuk's Cold-Blooded Message After Panthers End Lightning's Season
Related: Matthew Tkachuk's Cold-Blooded Message After Panthers End Lightning's Season
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