Browsing: Mikko

Mikko Rantanen will miss the Dallas Stars†upcoming road game against the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday as he serves an automatic one-game suspension.

On November 18, with under a minute remaining in regulation, Rantanen skated through a check by New York Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield and checked Alex Romanov from behind, propelling him violently into the end boards. Romanov was eventually assisted off the ice. Rantanen was given a five-minute major for boarding, which carries an automatic game misconduct.

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The NHL did not discipline Rantanen for the hit, citing the slight contact from Mayfield, a decision that did not sit well with many fans. While Mayfield may have slowed him slightly, that hardly explains Rantanenâ€s forward thrust that carried him through Mayfield and into Romanov, though that was the rationale offered after the fact.

In discussions with my colleagues, we reached a consensus. The NHLâ€s decision not to suspend Rantanen for the hit on Romanov risked setting a troubling precedent. Hockey is a contact sport, yet such leniency could encourage players to take liberties that endanger their peers. What was especially surprising, however, was that it would be Mikko Rantanen himself repeating the same behavior just days later against the Calgary Flames, charging out of the penalty box and plowing through Matt Coronato.

“Dallas†Mikko Rantanen has been automatically suspended for one game under Rule 23.6, Physical Infractions Category,” the NHL Department of Player Safety said in a statement on X. “In regular season League games, any player who incurs a total of two (2) game misconduct penalties in the Physical Infractions Category, before playing 41 consecutive regular season League games without such penalty, shall be suspended automatically for the next League game of his team.”

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Revisiting the hit on Romanov, who is now sidelined for five to six months following shoulder surgery sustained in the play, it is evident that Rantanenâ€s intent was to deliver a forceful impact. While Mayfieldâ€s contact may have slightly altered his trajectory, there is little doubt that his objective was to drive Romanov into the boards. Rantanen extended his arms—a motion rarely seen in the context of a conventional hockey stop, but one commonly employed to deliver a hit, which is what happened.

If the play had truly been unintentional, and Rantanen had merely “lost control†to the detriment of Romanovâ€s season, it seems unlikely he would engage in similarly reckless behavior just two games later. Yet he did, charging out of the penalty box and targeting Matt Coronato. This was not a simple boarding incident; Rantanen took at least five strides before reaching Coronato, meeting the criteria for charging as well. Boarding, charging, two game misconducts in less than a week—and all of it resulting in only a one-game suspension—raises serious questions about the leagueâ€s disciplinary standards.

What are we actually doing? What is the point of having a Department of Player Safety if we’re not actually taking safety seriously. It’s like having a department in the government dedicated to balancing the budget while consistently being in debt and not actually doing the things the people voted for you to accomplish.

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The issue extends beyond setting a poor precedent, as the optics are equally troubling and demand serious scrutiny. According to NHL rules, a player must accumulate two game misconducts within a 41-game span to trigger an automatic suspension. When a player reaches that threshold in just a matter of days, it seems reasonable to question whether a more substantial penalty is warranted. The league could have easily imposed a four- or five-game suspension on Rantanen if it chose to exercise stricter judgment. It is, after all, the NHLâ€s prerogative, but should another player sustain a serious injury due to what appears to be leniency, the consequences for the leagueâ€s credibility could be severe.

It is also important to recognize that the NHL faces a significant dilemma with sports betting. A 2018 Nielsen Sports study estimated that the leagueâ€s annual revenue could increase by at least $216 million from sports betting alone, a figure that has likely grown considerably in the years since. Suspensions can be costly for business. Much like in combat sports, where a fighter testing positive for a banned substance can disrupt events and revenue, leagues often calibrate penalties to minimize financial disruption. First-time offenders typically receive six-month suspensions, which coincides roughly with the natural cadence of a fighterâ€s career, thereby limiting the impact on the sportâ€s revenue stream.

For the NHL, however, the priority should be clear: protecting players must take precedence, regardless of the team or the business considerations involved.

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Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen received an automatic one-game suspension after getting ejected from his second game in a three-game span.

Rantanen received a game misconduct late in the second period of Saturday’s 3-2 shootout loss to the Flames after boarding Flames forward Matt Coronato from behind. Coronato was able to finish the game, but his coach, Ryan Huska, called it “a terrible hit.”

The NHL Department of Player Safety chose not to have a hearing for Rantanen following his latest infraction, according to sources, and instead relied on Rule 23.6 of the NHL rulebook which mandates an automatic one-game suspension for any player who receives a total of two game misconduct penalties in the “Physical Infractions Category” within 41 consecutive regular-season games.

The suspension will bench Rantanen for Tuesday night’s matchup in Edmonton against the Oilers, a rematch of last year’s Western Conference final, which the Oilers won in five games.

Rantanen, 29, is tied with Jason Robertson for the team lead with 28 points over 22 games (10 goals, 18 assists). With his two ejections, he now leads the team with a whopping 57 penalty minutes.

Saturday’s hit was the latest in a tough week for Rantanen.

In last Tuesday’s 3-2 loss to the Islanders, the Stars winger was also ejected late in the game after boarding defenseman Alexander Romanov. That play drew the ire of Islanders coach Patrick Roy, who went on a profane tirade as Rantanen left the ice, then later called the hit “disrespectful.”

“I’m going to say is [that] when you see the number, you have to lay off. Everybody knows that. You don’t go through the guy,” Roy said after the game. “I was in Colorado when [Rantanen] was drafted there. It’s not his style. But at the same time, that should not be part of our game.”

Romanov has been sidelined since that play and is on injured reserve with an upper body injury. According to sources, Romanov is getting a second opinion from Islanders doctors over the weekend, but the team is bracing for the defenseman to be out “a while” due to an injury from that hit.

Rantanen has no history of supplemental discipline over his 11-year-career, which has spanned Colorado, Carolina and now Dallas. Rantanen’s only noted history with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety before this suspension was an embellishment fine.

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Mikko Rantanen will have to watch the Dallas Stars’ next game from the sidelines after a couple ugly incidents over the last week.

It was the second game misconduct penalty that Rantanen has incurred over the last week after a hit on New York Islanders defenceman Alexander Romanov on Tuesday. He did not receive a suspension on that play.

According to the DoPS, any player who incurs two game misconduct penalties before playing 41 consecutive regular-season games without such a penalty shall be suspended automatically for the next game for his team.

The tipping point for Rantanen came in the Stars’ 3-2 shootout loss to the Flames on Saturday night.

With less than a minute remaining in the second period, Rantanen hit Coronato from behind and headfirst into the boards. Coronato immediately left the ice with a bloody nose as teammate Jonathan Huberdeau went after Rantanen with play whistled dead.

Coronato returned to the game early in the third period.

Along with the game misconduct, Rantanen was given an additional penalty for fighting Huberdeau, who received a 10-minute misconduct for retaliating to the hit.

On Tuesday against the Isles, Rantanen made contact with Romanov on the forecheck and sent the defenceman face-first into the boards.

Romanov immediately appeared to be in pain and required assistance to skate off the ice. He was placed on the injured reserve the following day with an upper-body injury. Rantanen was assessed a five-minute major for boarding and ejected from the game.

The 29-year-old Finn has had a productive first full season with the Stars, tallying 10 goals and 18 assists in 22 games, but because of his two ejections, he has a league-leading 57 penalty minutes.

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Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen may not be considered a dirty player. But his actions this past week have certainly changed the narrative surrounding him.

On Tuesday, with 27.3 seconds to play in regulation, Rantanen extended his arms, sending New York Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov hard into the boards.

Romanov had to be helped off the ice with an upper-body injury — he’s going to miss significant time if not the whole season — while Rantanen received a five-minute major for boarding and a game misconduct.

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However, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety deemed that Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield played a part in Rantanen falling in the first place, leading to no fine or suspension.

On Thursday night against the Ottawa Senators, Rantanen went hard through the crease and made contact with goaltender Linus Ullmark’s blocker, grabbing the goaltender’s arm before falling to the ice.

The league reviewed the play and found it to be embellishment, leading to a $2,000 fine. Rantanen had been previously flagged for another diving incident from a game against the Vancouver Canucks on Oct. 16.

Rantanen of Stars fined for embellishment | NHL.com

Rantanen of Stars fined for embellishment | NHL.com Forward penalized $2,000 as supplementary discipline for repeated offense

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But wait, there’s more.

On Saturday night against the Calgary Flames, Rantanen was ejected for the second time in three games after he drilled Long Island native Matt Coronato from behind. It was a bloody scene.

Rantanen cannot get out of his own way. We’ll see what punishment player safety hands out.

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  Greg WyshynskiNov 19, 2025, 12:28 AM ET

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  Greg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL writer.

New York Islanders coach Patrick Roy unleashed a profane tirade at Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen on Tuesday night as Rantanen was ejected for injuring Islanders defenseman Alex Romanov.

With less than a minute to go in regulation, Rantanen skated through a check by Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield and shoved Romanov in the back. The Islanders defenseman crashed violently into the end boards. He was eventually helped from the ice. The Islanders later reported that Romanov didn’t need to leave the arena for the hospital.

Rantanen was given a 5-minute major for boarding, which carries an automatic game misconduct. He’s the leading scorer for the Stars with 27 points in 20 games. New York hung on for a 3-2 road win. As Rantanen was leaving the game, ice-level mics picked up Roy yelling at him. The coach appeared to say “you’re not going to f—ing finish that game,” which might have been a reference to the rematch involving the teams in New York later this season.

Roy said after the game that Rantanen’s hit was “disrespectful” to his team.

“I hope he’s going to be OK. At this moment, I don’t know exactly what it is. But all I’m going to say is [that] when you see the number, you have to lay off. Everybody knows that. You don’t go through the guy,” Roy said. “I was in Colorado when [Rantanen] was drafted there. It’s not his style. But at the same time, that should not be part of our game.”

All dangerous hits are reviewed by the NHL Department of Player Safety for possible supplemental discipline.

Dallas Stars coach Glen Gulutzan said he had “a different take” on the Rantanen hit.

“If you watch the play, I think Mayfield holds up Rants and they actually clip skates. So Rants is going off-balance going in there, too. If you played the game and you’re off-balance, you usually put your hands out,” Gulutzan said. “I’ve seen Rants play enough in the last 10 years. It’s just one of those hockey plays that happened. I’m hoping Romanov is OK. It’s a dangerous play for everybody.”

The Rantanen ejection was part of an epic final minute of the game between the Islanders and Stars. It appeared that Dallas tied the score with 0.1 seconds left on a goal by Wyatt Johnston. But the NHL Situation Room initiated a goaltender interference review — by rule, the NHL can review any scenario that would otherwise be subject to a coach’s challenge in the final minute of regulation or at any point in overtime.

The NHL ruled that Dallas’ Jason Robertson impaired the ability of David Rittich to play his position in the crease before Johnston’s goal.

“I kind of thought Robo got pushed in, but nothing we can do about it. It was Toronto’s call,” said Stars captain Jamie Benn, playing his first game of the season due to injury. Gulutzan said he thought the Stars had a chance to win the review because the call on the ice was a goal.

“Any time there’s a player in the blue, you’re going to argue if he was pushed in or if he went in on his own. Obviously, you know where we stand on it,” he said.

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FRISCO, Texas — Mikko Rantanen can really settle in now, knowing where he will be for quite a while after going from Colorado to Carolina to Dallas in a six-week span last season.

“It was way different than all the other (seasons), because going through three teams and all the mental side of the things where you donâ€t know whatâ€s going to happen and get surprised by a couple of things,†Rantanen said. “Hopefully, I don’t have go to go through that again.â€

The winger who has averaged more than a point a game in his 10 NHL seasons isn’t going anywhere else anytime soon.

Rantanen has already become a big presence for the Stars. The six-foot-four Finn had a spectacular playoff performance after arriving last winter. He’s had a full off-season before the start of his $96 million, eight-year extension, the most expensive contract in franchise history that was part of the blockbuster deal at the trade deadline March 7 that sent him to Dallas.

“We know who he is. Weâ€ve watched him, weâ€ve had to play against him. … He’s had a chance now to kind of debrief,” Stars general manager Jim Nill said at the start of training camp.

“Mental side of the sport, it’s easier when you know where youâ€re going to go or where youâ€re going to be,” said Rantanen, who turns 29 on Oct. 29. “When you’re feeling good mentally, I think it helps on the ice.â€

While Rantanen provides plenty of points, Nill also looks forward to leadership from the player he describes as very focused, very dedicated, and driven to win.

“Tenth year in the league now, and so I think more with the experience, obviously try to be vocal in the locker room and stuff like that,†Rantanen said. “But itâ€s just natural. Iâ€m not trying to overthink it. Try to do the same things I did in the previous teams and just be myself.â€

Goalie Jake Oettinger said Rantanen is always with teammates, both on the ice and wanting to hang out as a group away from the rink.

“From the time he came here, it felt like heâ€d been on our team for a long time,†Oettinger said.

Rantanen was part of Colorado’s 2022 Stanley Cup title. Tyler Seguin is the only other current Stars player to win a Cup, and his came as a rookie with Boston in 2011.

“You get to see guys like that a few times in your career, not often. But you get to see behind doors what heâ€s like and how hard he works and what he can do in the gym, and just really his work ethic,†Seguin said. “Heâ€s a leader in all those things. If youâ€re a kid, just kind of watch Mikko throughout his six hours at the rink.”

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Rantanen had 18 points (five goals) in 20 games at the end of the regular season for the Stars. He added 22 points (nine goals) in 18 playoff games, including a stretch with back-to-back hat tricks and being involved in 13 consecutive Dallas goals, an NHL playoff record.

In the Stars†first-round series against the Avalanche, Rantanen had a four-point second period in Game 6, then in Game 7 finished off his former team with four points in the third period, including his first career post-season hat trick and an assist on the tie-breaking power-play goal for a series-clinching 4-2 win.

After being the first NHL player ever in the regular season or playoffs to have four-point periods in consecutive games, he opened the second round with a hat trick against Winnipeg.

Rantanen has 705 points (294 goals, 411 assists) in 652 career regular-season games, all but 33 of those with Colorado. He has another 123 points (43 goals) in 99 playoff games.

“It was always hard to play against that guy,†said Stars defenceman Miro Heiskanen, a fellow Finn.

Before being traded twice, Rantanen had been with Colorado for nine-and-a-half seasons, making his NHL debut with the Avalanche just weeks before his 19th birthday. They traded him Jan. 24, but he played only 13 games for Carolina, which like the Avs was unable to work out a long-term deal before he could potentially become an unrestricted free agent.

Dallas did so with the most expensive contract in its franchise history while also giving up promising young forward Logan Stankoven, two first-round and two third-round picks.

New Stars coach Glen Gulutzan was on Edmonton’s staff the past seven seasons, and the past two the Oilers beat Dallas in the Western Conference Final. He told Rantanen how glad he was after the trade to the East, then how sad he was after the deal brought him back to the West.

“Then I got to coach Dallas, and now I’m happy that you’re here,†Gulutzan said, relaying the rest of that conversation.

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