Mikko Rantanen was the 10th overall selection in the 2015 NHL Draft by the Avalanche. He was 18 years old when he was selected and was the top-rated European skater. Rantanen signed a three-year entry-level deal with the Avs ahead of the 2015 season.

Rantanen wasn’t done moving, either. He declined to sign a contract extension with the Hurricanes before the trade deadline, so one of the 10-15 best players in the world was traded again, and this time to the franchise that knocked the Avalanche out of the playoffs in 2020 and 2024.

The Dallas Stars and the Colorado Avalanche are meeting in the playoffs again, this time in the opening round with Mikko Rantanen on a different side.