Once you’re one of many high gamers within the NHL, getting traded is a troublesome tablet to swallow. Having it occur twice in a matter of weeks and in some way ending up on the roster of a former rival? It is nearly unfathomable.
Such was the case for Finnish famous person Mikko Rantanen, whose absurd journey over the past month and a bit has in some way introduced him on a collision course along with his former buddies, teammates and colleagues on the Colorado Avalanche.
After his commerce saga concluded with a transfer again to the Central and into the arms of the Dallas Stars, ought to the standings within the crowded division stay as they presently are, his new group and his former group are destined for a first-round playoff duel in what might turn out to be an all-time collection.
For followers, it’s going to be one of many must-watch battles of the primary spherical. However for Rantanen, it might be one rife with revenge — if he can solely get previous how weird the state of affairs is.
“Yeah, it is gonna be bizarre for certain, going again there,” Rantanen mentioned a couple of potential collection in opposition to the Avs. “I spent, you realize, 10 years with the group. Quite a lot of good buddies, all of the workers, coaches, I do know them very effectively.”
In a transfer that got here seemingly out of nowhere, Rantanen was shipped from Denver out to hitch up with the Carolina Hurricanes in one of many largest blockbuster offers in NHL historical past.
Nevertheless, his time in Raleigh got here to an abrupt finish on Friday, forward of the league’s commerce deadline, as he made his strategy to Dallas for a haul that included touted younger ahead Logan Stankoven.
“It occurs fast, so I am certain [it’s shocking] for the blokes too,” Rantanen mentioned in regards to the sudden commerce to Dallas. “Enjoying in opposition to them lots, in the identical division as Colorado and battling exhausting. They had been enemies and now they’re teammates unexpectedly. So it is completely different, however I’ve met the blokes and so they’re all good guys.”
The Stars and Avalanche have a shared historical past lately as two of the powerhouse squads within the Central division. They met within the playoffs as lately as final season, because the Stars took the higher hand with a 4-2 second-round win over their rivals.
In addition they met within the 2020 post-season, as Dallas downed Colorado in seven video games within the second spherical en path to a Stanley Cup Ultimate look.
Since Rantanen made his NHL debut within the 2015-16 season, the 2 Central groups are almost inseparable, with the Stars solely barely edging out the Avalanche with an 18-15-2 document within the common season. However what issues greater than something within the rivalry is post-season wins, and the Stars carry a heavier higher hand there.
However a brand new chapter to the duel could also be set to take form, with acquainted faces all of the sudden changing into fearsome foes, and former rivals turning into trusted teammates.
“It occurs, you realize? On the finish of the day, it is a enterprise. Issues occur like this. It is not the primary time,” Rantanen mentioned after his first follow along with his new group, alongside his former rivals. “However the first time [I go back to Denver], it is gonna be bizarre. In all probability the second and third, too. However hopefully it will get simpler.”
Rantanen may have loads of time for all of it to sink in after penning an eight-year contract extension in Dallas, however he’ll be hoping he can recover from it sooner reasonably than later if the 2 sides do, in truth, meet come April.
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