Mikko Rantanen

Mikko Rantanen was born on October 29, 1996, in Nousiainen, Finland. He embarked on his professional ice hockey career at a young age, making his debut with TPS Turku in Finland’s top league, Liiga, during the 2012-13 season. As a 16-year-old, he recorded three points in 15 games. His performance continued to develop, and by the 2014-15 season, he was an alternate captain for TPS, accumulating 28 points (nine goals, 19 assists) in 56 games. Impressively, he also contributed to the TPS junior club’s championship win, earning Best Player honors in the postseason. Rantanen’s talent was recognized internationally, and he was rated as the top European skater for the 2015 NHL Draft, where he was selected 10th overall by the Colorado Avalanche.

Rantanen signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Avalanche on July 13, 2015, making his NHL debut on October 8, 2015. Initially, he spent time with the San Antonio Rampage, the Avalanche’s American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, where he was a standout performer. He led all AHL rookies in scoring with 60 points (24 goals, 36 assists) in 52 games and shared the Dudley (Red) Garrett Memorial Award for the league’s outstanding rookie in 2016. He returned to the NHL full-time in the 2016-17 season, scoring his first NHL goal on November 11, 2016, and his first hat trick on February 8, 2017. His career with the Avalanche saw a significant turning point in the 2021-22 season when he achieved NHL career highs in goals (36), assists (56), and points (92), culminating in a Stanley Cup championship after a strong playoff performance. In the 2022-23 season, Rantanen scored 55 goals, becoming only the third Finn and third Avalanche/Nordiques player in history to reach this milestone.

After 10 seasons with the Colorado Avalanche, Rantanen was part of a significant three-team trade on January 24, 2025, moving to the Carolina Hurricanes. His stint with the Hurricanes was brief, as he was then traded to the Dallas Stars on March 7, 2025. This move involved a sign-and-trade deal where Rantanen signed an eight-year, $96 million contract with the Stars. Shortly after joining Dallas, he made history by becoming the first player to score a hat trick in the third period of a Game 7, contributing to the Stars’ elimination of his former team, the Avalanche, from the Western Conference First Round. He also became the third player in NHL history to record a hat trick in two consecutive playoff games in May 2025.