Newly acquired Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen said Wednesday he's pleased with where he landed while denying his former coach's claim that he gave Carolina a list of teams he preferred in a trade,

But it was coach Pete DeBoer who stole the show. While it’s customary for professional coaches to be completely myopic and locked in on their sport, DeBoer demonstrated a certain breadth of local awareness when he was asked to describe what Rantanen means for Dallas.

Mikko Rantanen has had a stressful season, first moving from the Colorado Avalanche to the Carolina Hurricanes in January and ultimately being traded again to the Dallas Stars before Friday's deadline.

The 28-year-old was acquired in exchange for forward Logan Stankoven, a 2026 first-round pick, a 2026 third-round pick, a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 first-round pick

The TV home of the Dallas Stars, Victory+, announced on Tuesday that the streaming service achieved a new viewership record during the March 8 matchup against the Edmonton Oilers. More than 165,000 digital-only viewers tuned in to watch the Stars take on the Oilers in what was the debut of newly-acquired blockbuster trade asset, Mikko Rantanen.

Mikko Rantanen has found a familiar home in Dallas, thanks to the Stars’ strong Finnish presence. The veteran forward, acquired in a blockbuster trade with the Carolina Hurricanes, is joining a team that already boasts several of his countrymen—a connection Stars forward Matt Duchene has dubbed the ‘Finnish Mafia.’

Just when you thought the saga between Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen and the Carolina Hurricanes was over, it sucks you right back in. The latest shot came from Canes head coach Rod Brind’Amour.