Fresh report suggests Avalanche Cup hero could struggle in Dallas next season
Photo credit: Perry Nelson / Imagn Images
Former Colorado Avalanche standout Mikko Rantanen is facing increased scrutiny as he gears up for his first full season with the Dallas Stars, with fans and analysts alike watching closely to see how he adapts to a new team and whether he can live up to the high expectations set by his previous success in Colorado.
For those who need a refresher, the Avalanche initially traded Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes, and he was later moved again, this time to the Dallas Stars.
What can the Stars expect from the first full year of Mikko Rantanen?
Sean Shapiro from D Magazine writes the-28-year-old's playoff performances, especially against his former team, quickly became part of Stars lore.
The standout moment came during a four-game stretch in which he tallied 14 goals, notched back-to-back hat tricks, and dominated the third period of Game 7 against Colorado, single-handedly engineering a comeback win after Dallas fell behind 2-0 early in the final frame.
"But what can be expected over Rantanen's first full season in Dallas? For new Stars head coach Glen Gulutzan, the answer starts with making Rantanen a focal point of the team's culture. Gulutzan is a big believer that a team's best players-its superstars-must set the tone and be the difference-makers in the season's biggest moments." -Shapiro
Gulutzan adds that it's his responsibility to ensure the team maximizes Rantanen's talents when the playoffs arrive.
"He's a player you plan around when you coach him and when you coach against him. There are so many things I think we want to do as a team, where Mikko can be a leader in that area." -Gulutzan
Rantanen's points are easy to track, but Gulutzan says his real impact will be seen in improved puck possession, more zone time, and fewer chances against.
"You look at our underlying analytics and they are really good in lots of areas. However, the biggest growth I'm looking for is to tidy up the line rushes against. It's a major indicator of who the best teams are, and one of the key things that helps your line rushes against is having a little more O-zone [time] and holding pucks. That's one of the areas I think we can have one of the biggest gains on our team." -Gulutzan
The next challenge for Dallas is finding players who can take advantage of the space Rantanen creates. He excelled in Colorado alongside Nathan MacKinnon. The Stars don't have a MacKinnon, so there will be more on Rantanen across all three zones.
Gulutzan insists that Rantanen's game can succeed on any line, as long as everyone is in sync. Petersen believes this adaptability is where Rantanen will truly excel as he settles into Dallas.
"If everything comes together, Rantanen will become an impact forward unlike any the Stars have employed since their heyday at the turn of the century, when Mike Modano, Brett Hull, and Joe Nieuwendyk were flying down the ice." -Shapiro
Rantanen's potential is so immense that there's even a chance he surpasses expectations, a rare feat in hockey. But then again, few players are truly like Mikko Rantanen.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 26 | 15 ANSWERS Fresh report suggests Avalanche Cup hero could struggle in Dallas next season Do you still Rantanen will finish with the most points on the Stars next season? | ||
| yes | 9 | 60 % |
| no | 6 | 40 % |
| List of polls | ||
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