Controversy erupted in November 2024 over a hit on Alex Romanov, triggering widespread backlash and media scrutiny, with Islanders coach Patrick Roy among critics, though there was no Department of Player Safety hearing.

In the sequence, Colorado sent him to Carolina in a deal centered on Martin Nečas, and soon after he joined Dallas in another deal involving Logan Stankoven, with Carolina seeking an extension that ultimately didn’t materialize.

The double-trade year culminated in a secure home in Dallas and a focus on growth rather than off-ice speculation.

Off-ice incidents in November included a rough shove that sidelined Romanov for months, fueling viral debates while not yielding a formal NHL safety hearing.

The central incident involved the hit on Romanov that led to shoulder surgery and drew intense scrutiny, even as no hearing was held by the NHL Department of Player Safety.

Carolina hoped to sign him to an extension and establish roots in Raleigh, but after 13 games he was traded to Dallas—part of a deal signaling a search for fit and personal stability.

The deal solidified his long-term future in Dallas, where he felt settled and concentrated on hockey.

Off the ice, his engagement to Susanna Ranta contributed to settling in Dallas and reducing distractions, aiding his focus on hockey.

Reflecting on the upheaval, he views last season as a learning experience about controllable factors and stability, optimistic that Dallas will sustain his focus and performance.

He emphasizes resilience from the chaotic double-trade year, ready to handle whatever comes as a veteran star in Dallas.

Overall, the season marks a pivotal point: navigating controversy, stabilizing with a new team, and pursuing Dallas’ first Cup since 1999 while not taking off-ice circumstances for granted.

His playoff run with Dallas was elite, leading the Stars to the conference finals with 22 points in 18 games and a nine-goal stretch over six games, underscoring sustained production.

The 2025 season featured two blockbuster trades that reshaped his path: from Colorado to Carolina in January 2024, then to Dallas in a subsequent deal, amid talks about contract status and free-agent considerations.

These high-profile 2024 trades tested his value as a franchise player and raised questions about whether he could anchor a new team’s core.

These incidents punctuated a career as a premier scorer, as he navigated high-profile discipline and maintained his status as a frontline star.

Teammates and coaches highlight his size, skill, and leadership influence, noting his competitive fire mirrors that of elite players and boosts Dallas’ Cup ambitions.

Dallas leadership, including the GM and coach, emphasizes his superstar potential and the impact of his leadership on the team’s trajectory.

After the upheaval, he signed an eight-year, $96 million contract with Dallas, signaling stability and a long-term commitment that allowed him to focus on performance.

In Dallas, Mikko Rantanen found a productive fit, contributing 33 points in 25 games with strong power-play impact and forming chemistry with Wyatt Johnston and Jason Robertson, while integrating into the Stars’ Finnish contingent and adapting to a new locker room dynamic.

Teammates describe him as a charismatic presence who elevates locker room leadership and helps integrate new players, a shift from his earlier low-key demeanor within Dallas’ Finnish group.

Carolina aimed to secure a long-term extension, yet he moved to Dallas where he signed an eight-year, $96 million contract with a full no-movement clause.

Rantanen’s 2025 season brought infamy with back-to-back game misconducts, including the Romanov incident that drew public criticism from figures like Patrick Roy and marked the first automatic one-game suspension of his career.