Mikko Rantanen has been traded for the second time this season. The Dallas Stars have acquired Rantanen from the Carolina Hurricanes for Logan Stankoven, first-round picks in both 2026 and 2028, and third-round picks in both 2026 and 2027. In order to make the deal happen, Rantanen has also agreed to an eight-year extension with the Stars worth $96 million total ($12 million AAV).

The Stars receive:

Rantanen, who would have been the grand prize of 2025 free agency had he made it there. Rantanen had reached at least 40 goals and 100 points in each of his past two seasons with Colorado. However, the 28-year-old winger struggled in his brief stint with Carolina with just six points in 13 games, also failing to agree to an extension with the Canes.

The Hurricanes receive:

Stankoven, who has showed promise late last season (14 PTS in 24 GP) and also in his first full season this season (29 PTS in 59 GP). The 22-year-old winger was considered a steal as a second-round pick for the Stars in 2021, having been a high scorer at both the WHL and AHL level.

Fantasy impact:

The Dallas Stars might be your Stanley Cup favorite this season, featuring a top 9 that might be unrivalled. This potential top 9 is taken from the Frozen Tools depth chart for Dallas, so don't assume these will be the lines going forward.

JASON ROBERTSON – WYATT JOHNSTON – MIKKO RANTANEN

MASON MARCHMENT – MATT DUCHENE – MIKAEL GRANLUND

JAMIE BENN – ROOPE HINTZ – MAVRIK BOURQUE

Injured: TYLER SEGUIN

Rantanen upgrades their roster big-time in both the short term and the long term. However, it's worth mentioning that the Stars have a very hot top line at the moment with Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz, and Wyatt Johnston. Rantanen could bump Johnston off that top line, with the dominoes potentially falling as recent acquisition Mikael Granlund out of the top 6 with young Mavrik Bourque out of the top 9.

Rantanen should receive an (re)upgrade in value with this trade, as it seemed like he could never get his footing in Carolina. It's worth mentioning that Rantanen shot at a 5% success rate with the Canes while he has typically been a 15-18% shooter throughout his career. That being said, he may never reach the lofty heights of his time in Colorado, as the Stars don't possess a center with the scoring capabilities of Nathan MacKinnon. Knowing he is in Dallas to stay could help his short- and long-term numbers, although an adjustment period can't be ruled out either.

In terms of power-play time, Matt Duchene might be the odd man out. That might be a very small loss in value, as the Stars' first and second power-play units don't vary widely in icetime. Overall, Dallas' top scorers should receive an upgrade with the potential to line up with a player as talented as Rantanen.

Meanwhile, Stankoven should fit in at about a second-line role for the Hurricanes. He could bump fellow rookie Jackson Blake out of the top 6. Stankoven's icetime stands to increase from his time in Dallas, as he averaged just over 15 minutes per game in a secondary scoring role.

Players this helps, in order:

Stankoven

Rantanen

Hintz

Robertson

Players this hurts, in order:

Blake

Bourque

Granlund

Duchene

–

Discuss the trade in this thread on the Forum.