Making sense of Mikko Rantanen’s strange season

Mikko Rantanen has been one of hockey’s most consistent wingers in the last decade, recording six 80-point seasons in his last nine years, as well as being a major cog in the machine that helped the Colorado Avalanche win the Stanley Cup in 2022.

But after being traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in the last year of his contract, Rantanen struggled to settle in, and was eventually traded again – this time to the Dallas Stars – at this year’s Trade Deadline.

Now settled in a new home with a new contract, fans might be wondering if his production will hit the 100-point high points he found in his last few seasons in Colorado.

On Monday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Frank Seravalli and former NHL goaltender Carter Hutton discuss Rantanen’s up-and-down season, and what fans should expect as we get closer to the playoffs.

Frank Seravalli: Don’t look now, but Mikko Rantanen is heating up. In his last four games, he’s got two goals and five assists for seven points. By the way, if you want a great stat from our guy Paul Pidutti (@AdjustedHockey): With nine games left, Rantanen has already set the all-time empty net points record with 16, and is tied for the most empty-net goals in a season.

It puts his numbers in a different perspective when you look at them from the other way. Without the empty net goals and points, he has 22 goals and is on pace for 73 points, tied for 50th in the league in 5-on-5 points with 34. It’s certainly a different prism to look at Rantanen and his season.

Carter Hutton: I guess they don’t ask “how,” but now they do. There’s too many stats, there’s no hiding from your 5-on-5 production. However, I’m going to err on the side of him being through a lot this year, with the trades and the situations he’s been in. I think the best way to judge his contract is to see what he does in the playoffs, because that’s what the Stars need from him.

You can watch the full segment and the rest of the episode here…