Trade deadline day promises unexpected player movement throughout any league. For the National Hockey League, this deadline delivered with the hometown team making a blockbuster deal. Discussions between the Dallas Stars, Carolina Hurricanes for Mikko Rantanen commenced with the Stars, striking a deal for the star forward this morning. 28-year-old Rantanen was sent to Carolina from the Colorado Avalanche on Jan. 25 in a three-team deal. In a twist, Rantanen didn’t want to sign an extension with the Hurricanes, forcing their hand to make a move or potentially letting him leave in free agency . Since the initial reports of Rantanen’s unwillingness to resign with the Hurricanes, trade talks flooded the media with questions on where Rantanen would end up. This afternoon, on deadline day, The Hurricanes found a suitor with the Dallas Stars in return for Logan Stankoven and two first-round picks.

Early reports of the deal stayed murky as the Stars didn’t finalize a deal until they could agree on a contract with Rantanen. Both sides agreed to an eight-year, $12 million AAV for the two-time all-star. The Stars gave up the 22-year-old promising talent of Logan Stankoven in this deal along with those first-round-picks as mentioned earlier. However, receiving the Mikko Rantanen caliber star in return sets the Stars up nicely. Going forward with the season and the playoffs, Rantanen adds firepower to an already explosive offense that ranks fourth in the league. 

Dallas Stars General Manager Jim Nill made a name for himself through his Dallas tenure with positive moves throughout the years, and I see this deal as no different. Rantanen is a quality player and brings chemistry to the team with fellow countrymen Miro Heiskanen, Roope Hintz, Esa Lindell and Mikael Granlund. This move tremendously helps the Stars’ Stanley Cup chances, and Vegas agrees, increasing the Stars’ odds to +600 to win it all. Like all trades, time will tell who comes out on top, but on paper this deal looks promising for Dallas.