As uncertainty looms, this former Avalanche forward shines as a beacon of hope for the Dallas Stars
Photo credit: The Dallas Morning News
The Dallas Stars might move on from both their longtime captain and top goal-scorer, and the friction between their head coach and starting goalie appears far from settled.
Amid a chaotic offseason and a frustrating end of year, one bright spot remains for Dallas; the guaranteed return of newly acquired superstar forward Mikko Rantanen.
This former Avalanche forward shines as a beacon of hope for the Dallas Stars.
Lia Assimakopoulos from The Dallas Morning News writes that the Stars need to strengthen their depth to finally break through the Western Conference Finals barrier, but with just $5 million in cap space at the moment, their options are limited.
"After his first nine seasons in Colorado, his 10th came with two in-season trades, landing him in Carolina for 13 games before he was flipped over to Dallas in exchange for four draft picks and Logan Stankoven. Fresh off back-to-back 100-point seasons, Rantanen felt blindsided, and the trades took an emotional and physical toll." -Assimakopoulos
For Dallas, there's comfort in knowing they likely haven't seen the best of Rantanen yet. Surrounding by a solid group of fellow Finns, his transition was smoother than it might have been elsewhere, but with a full offseason to adjust and gear up, Rantanen should be ready to make a major impact once his hefty new contract kicks in next season.
"Rantanen's role will be one of more than just goal-scoring. Some in Colorado criticized Rantanen's streakiness, saying he disappears at times. But even when he wasn't scoring, he showed the makings of a superstar. His talent is undeniable. His work ethic was regularly praised by his coaches and teammates. His humility - even when others pushed a narrative that he was selfish - was apparent. And his leadership, both on the ice and vocally, were valued." -Assimakopoulos
As veterans like Jamie Benn, Matt Duchene, and Tyler Seguin near the end of their time in Dallas, the Stars will need Rantanen to step into a leading role, and even in a limited sample, he's already shown he's more than capable of taking the reins.
Source:
The Dallas Morning News
Amid offseason uncertainty, Mikko Rantanen's long-term stability brings Dallas Stars hope
The Dallas Morning News
Amid offseason uncertainty, Mikko Rantanen's long-term stability brings Dallas Stars hope
| POLL | ||
JUIN 6 | 46 ANSWERS As uncertainty looms, this former Avalanche forward shines as a beacon of hope for the Dallas Stars Do you think Mikko Rantanen will be able to handle the pressure in Dallas? | ||
| yes | 21 | 45.7 % |
| no | 25 | 54.3 % |
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