Mikko Rantanen’s Olympic journey came to an early end when he had to sit out Finland’s bronze-medal game against Slovakia on Saturday.
The Dallas Stars forward picked up a lower-body injury during the third period of Finland’s heartbreaking 3-2 semifinal loss to Canada on Friday.
It’s a tough break for Finland – Rantanen was their top scorer in the tournament with six points, including two goals and four assists in just five games.
Oliver Kapanen stepped up to fill the gap on Finland’s top line, joining Sebastian Aho and Artturi Lehkonen.
Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman shared some early details about the injury: “Rantanen will be re-evaluated when he returns to Dallas regarding the severity and timeline of injury.” The good news? Sources say it’s not expected to be season-ending.
Still, the timing couldn’t be worse for the Stars.
With the NHL trade deadline coming up on March 6 – just two weeks after the Olympic break – Dallas needs to know exactly what they’re dealing with. Rantanen has been absolutely crucial for them this season, racking up an impressive 69 points (20 goals, 49 assists) in 54 games.
The 27-year-old star has been everything Dallas hoped for since trading for him and signing him to a big extension last season. Now they’re holding their breath, waiting to see just how serious this setback might be.
The Stars’ medical team will get a closer look when he’s back in Dallas. That evaluation will likely shape their trade deadline strategy – do they need extra forward depth, or can they count on a quick Rantanen return?
