"Change is never easy" - Mikko Rantanen shares a message for Stars fans ahead of transformative offseason for franchise

Mikko Rantanen’s move to Dallas came after weeks of uncertainty. He was traded by the Colorado Avalanche to the Carolina Hurricanes on January 24. He was nearing free agency on July 1, which is why Colorado traded him.

Rantanen played 13 games for the Hurricanes but Carolina failed to sign him long-term. So, they traded him to Dallas in March. Dallas then signed him to an eight-year, $96 million contract.

Rantanen shared a message for Stars fans in an Instagram post on Friday.

"Change is never easy, but I’m grateful for the journey this season that brought me to the Stars," he wrote. "Thank you to the entire Dallas organization and fanbase for a warm welcome. I’m excited for the future of this team. Enjoy your summer Stars fans and see you in September."

Mikko Rantanen played for three teams during the regular season. He started with Colorado, then moved to Carolina and later joined Dallas. He finished with 32 goals and 56 assists, totaling 88 points. This placed him among the top 20 scorers in the league.

Rantanen had a strong playoff performance for Dallas. He scored 9 goals and made 13 assists in 18 games. He had two hat tricks, one against Colorado in Game 7 and another in Game 1 against Winnipeg. He played over 20 minutes per game and was a key player for the Stars through their postseason run.

Mikko Rantanen consulted with his close ones before his trade to Dallas Stars

Mikko Rantanen called his NHL journey “crazy” after being traded twice in six weeks. Rantanen said he never expected to be traded out of Colorado Avalanche, but is happy with how things turned out.

"It was the first time I’ve been traded from Colorado and it happened quick...," Rantanen said, via NHL.com. "So it’s been something that I never thought I would fully experience"

He spent only a few weeks with the Hurricanes before they moved him, unsure they could sign him long-term. Rantanen liked Carolina but felt Dallas was the better fit. He spoke with his family and decided it was the right move for his career and life.

"I’ve been thinking a lot about it with myself and my camp and (my girlfriend) Susanna and everything," Rantanen said in March. "Just the fit I feel like everywhere, I think that was what the decision was."

With his Stanley Cup experience, Mikko Rantanen has brought proven skill to a strong Dallas in pursuit of a cup.