Mikko Rantanen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mikko Rantanen
Rantanen with the Dallas Stars in 2025
Born	(1996-10-29) 29 October 1996 (age 28) Nousiainen, Finland
Height	6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight	215 lb (98 kg; 15 st 5 lb)
Position	Forward
Shoots	Left
NHL team Former teams	Dallas Stars TPS Colorado Avalanche Carolina Hurricanes
National team	Finland
NHL Draft	10th overall, 2015 Colorado Avalanche
Playing career	2012–present

Mikko Rantanen, born on October 29, 1996, is a professional ice hockey player from Finland. He plays as a forward for the Dallas Stars in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Colorado Avalanche chose him as the 10th player overall in the 2015 NHL entry draft. He started playing in the NHL that same year. Rantanen helped the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup in 2022. After playing a short time with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2025, Rantanen joined the Dallas Stars with a long-term contract.

Mikko Rantanen's Hockey Journey

Starting Young in Finland

Mikko Rantanen began his professional hockey career in Finland. He was only 16 years old when he first played in the top Finnish league, called SM-liiga, during the 2012–13 season. He played for HC TPS, a team he had been with since he was 14. In his first 15 games, he scored two goals and had one assist.

Rantanen in 2016

By the 2014–15 season, Rantanen was still only 17. He was one of the youngest players to be in his third year with TPS. He signed a new contract to stay with the team. Rantanen used his large size and strong play to score nine goals and 28 points in 56 games. He was also an alternate captain for the team. He helped the TPS junior team win their championship, scoring 14 points in 7 games. He was even named the Best Player for his efforts.

After this season, experts rated Rantanen as the top European skater who was eligible for the NHL draft. The Colorado Avalanche picked him tenth overall in the 2015 NHL entry draft on June 26, 2015.

Playing for the Colorado Avalanche (2015–2025)

On July 13, 2015, Rantanen signed his first NHL contract with the Avalanche. He impressed everyone during his first training camp. He made the team's opening night roster for the 2015–16 season as an 18-year-old. He played his first NHL game on October 8, 2015, against the Minnesota Wild. After playing six games without scoring, he was sent to the Avalanche's minor league team, the San Antonio Rampage, on October 22, 2015.

In his first game with the Rampage, Rantanen scored his first goal and assist in North America. He continued to score many points for the Rampage. He was even chosen for the AHL All-Star Game. He became one of the youngest players ever to score 60 points in the minor league, doing it in just 52 games. He was named to the Second All-Star Team and shared the award for the AHL's best rookie.

Rantanen battles for position against Justin Schultz during the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs.

On November 11, 2016, Rantanen scored his first NHL goal against the Winnipeg Jets. He scored his first hat trick (three goals in one game) on February 8, 2017, in a 4–0 win over the Montreal Canadiens.

Rantanen had a fantastic year during the 2017–18 season. He scored 29 goals and 55 assists, totaling 84 points in 81 games. Only his teammate Nathan MacKinnon had more points for Colorado. The team made it to the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs. Rantanen had four assists, but the team was eliminated by the Nashville Predators.

The 2018–19 season was also great for Rantanen. He scored 50 points by December 2018. He finished the season with a career-high 87 points in 74 games. He also led the team in scoring during their playoff run.

On September 28, 2019, Rantanen signed a six-year contract extension with the Avalanche. On June 26, 2022, the Colorado Avalanche won the Stanley Cup. They defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning, giving Rantanen his first championship.

In the 2022–23 season, Mikko Rantanen became only the third Finnish player ever to score 50 goals in an NHL regular season. He was also the third player in Colorado Avalanche history to reach this milestone.

As the 2024–25 season began, Rantanen was in the final year of his contract. He and the Avalanche could not agree on a new deal. Rantanen was reportedly looking for a higher salary than the team was willing to offer. Despite this, Rantanen continued to play very well, often being one of the top 10 scorers in the league.

Short Time with the Carolina Hurricanes (2025)

On January 24, 2025, Rantanen was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes. This was a big trade involving three teams, including the Chicago Blackhawks. Many sports experts called it a "blockbuster" trade. The main reason for the trade was that the Avalanche and Rantanen could not agree on a new contract. The Avalanche wanted to get other players and draft picks for Rantanen instead of losing him for free later. At the time of the trade, Rantanen led Colorado with 25 goals and was sixth in the league with 64 points.

After the trade, the Hurricanes tried to sign Rantanen to a long-term contract. However, Rantanen did not commit to a deal. His play with Carolina was not as strong as expected. The Hurricanes then decided to trade him again rather than risk losing him for free.

Joining the Dallas Stars (2025–present)

On the afternoon of the trade deadline, after playing 13 games with the Hurricanes, Rantanen was traded to the Dallas Stars. He immediately signed an eight-year contract with Dallas. The Stars traded several players and draft picks to the Hurricanes for him. On May 7, 2025, Rantanen made history by scoring a hat trick in two playoff games in a row. Only two other players in NHL history had done this before him.

International Hockey

Medal record
Representing  Finland
Men's ice hockey
World Championships
Silver	2016 Russia
World Junior Championships
Gold	2016 Finland

Mikko Rantanen started playing for the Finnish national junior team when he was young. He first played in an international tournament at the 2013 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, where he scored seven points. He then led the under-18 team with seven points at the 2013 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament. He also played in his first full IIHF competition at the 2014 IIHF World U18 Championships.

Rantanen continued to play for the Finnish junior team. He was chosen for the 2015 World Junior Championships in Toronto. Even though Finland finished seventh, Rantanen scored four goals and was named one of the top three players on his team.

During his first professional season in North America, Rantanen was allowed by the Colorado Avalanche to play for the Finnish junior team again. He was the captain of the team as they hosted the 2016 World Junior Championships. Rantanen helped Finland win the gold medal. He scored in the Semi-final against Sweden and in the Final against Russia. This was a great way to end his junior career.

Career Statistics

Regular Season and Playoffs

International Play

Awards and Honours