Mikko Rantanen and other trade deadline additions are having big impacts on the NHL playoffs
Winnipeg Jets left wing Brandon Tanev argues with an official during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Florida Panthers forward Brad Marchand (63) and Toronto Maple Leafs forward Scott Laughton (24) vie for control of the puck during the third period of Game 1 in an NHL hockey second-round playoff series in Toronto, Monday, May 5, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP
Washington Capitals left wing Anthony Beauvillier (72) celebrates after his goal in the second period of Game 1 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens, Monday, April 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Carolina Hurricanes' Logan Stankoven (22) celebrates his goal against the New Jersey Devils during the second period of Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Sunday, April 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)
Carolina Hurricanes' Sebastian Aho, center, celebrates with teammates Shayne Gostisbehere, left, and Logan Stankoven (22) after Aho's game-winning goal during the second overtime period of Game 5 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series against the New Jersey Devils in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)
Dallas Stars right wing Mikko Rantanen (96) chases the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Wednesday, April 16, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Dallas Stars right wing Mikko Rantanen (96) chases the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Wednesday, April 16, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Winnipeg Jets left wing Brandon Tanev argues with an official during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Florida Panthers forward Brad Marchand (63) and Toronto Maple Leafs forward Scott Laughton (24) vie for control of the puck during the third period of Game 1 in an NHL hockey second-round playoff series in Toronto, Monday, May 5, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP
Washington Capitals left wing Anthony Beauvillier (72) celebrates after his goal in the second period of Game 1 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens, Monday, April 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Carolina Hurricanes' Logan Stankoven (22) celebrates his goal against the New Jersey Devils during the second period of Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Sunday, April 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)
Carolina Hurricanes' Sebastian Aho, center, celebrates with teammates Shayne Gostisbehere, left, and Logan Stankoven (22) after Aho's game-winning goal during the second overtime period of Game 5 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series against the New Jersey Devils in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)
Dallas Stars right wing Mikko Rantanen (96) chases the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Wednesday, April 16, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Mikko Rantanen is showing exactly why Dallas was willing to pay such a hefty price to put him the roster. One of the players the Stars traded for Rantanen is also making a positive impact for his new team.
Nearly every team in the second round of the NHL playoffs is benefitting from moves they made at the trade deadline. That includes Toronto with Brandon Carlo and Scott Laughton; Florida with Brad Marchand and Seth Jones; Washington with Anthony Beauvillier; Edmonton with Jake Walman and Trent Frederic; Winnipeg with Brandon Tanev and Luke Schenn; and the Carolina Hurricanes also with Taylor Hall and Mark Jankowski.
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One of those teams — or maybe Vegas, which made a move to get Reilly Smith back — will hoist the Stanley Cup in June and have a trade or two to credit for the journey.
The Stars and Hurricanes are co-Cup favorites according to BetMGM Sportsbook after making the biggest deadline deal: Rantanen to Dallas for Logan Stankoven, two first-round picks and a third-rounder to Carolina. Rantanen has had a hat trick in each of the past two games — last weekend in Game 7 to knock out the Colorado Avalanche who traded him in late January and then in Wednesday's series opener at Winnipeg.
"It's a treat,' teammate Sam Steel said. 'He's one of the best players in the world and he's just on fire right now, so we're just trying to get him the puck.'
Stars coach Peter DeBoer said Rantanen had an easy transition. That may be an understatement, as the 28-year-old Finn leads the postseason with eight goals and 15 points.
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"We all know how elite he is,' Jets winger Nino Niederreiter said. 'He's really done it these last few games and throughout his whole career — always a fantastic player."
That was the Hurricanes' thinking when they sent Martin Necas, Jack Drury and two picks to Colorado for Rantanen in an unexpected, blockbuster trade more than a month before the deadline. Avalanche president of hockey operations Joe Sakic — who drafted Rantanen with the 10th pick in 2015 — heard after that move that the possibility of another trade back West was possible.
With the clock ticking toward the deadline on March 7, first-year Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky made the most of the situation and dealt Rantanen to the Stars, who then signed him to an eight-year, $96 million extension.
Rantanen is a playoff producer (101 points in 81 games before this spring, including helping Colorado win the Cup in 2022).
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Carolina has gotten three goals this playoffs from Stankoven and three points from Hall, while Jankowski was a big reason for a perfect penalty kill in the first round.
"They've all helped in a lot of different ways on both sides of the puck," captain Jordan Staal said. 'Three great players that have really kind of solidified our lineup and played really well for us.'
So has Marchand for defending champion Florida, so far scoring at a point-a-game pace this playoffs. He and Jones felt welcomed right away.
'This team is built to want to win, and they have that drive," Marchand said. 'And when you walk in the room, everyone was really excited for each and every one of us to come in and be part of the group.'
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The Capitals got Beauvillier in part because he has had some high-scoring playoffs. He had 27 points combined over two New York Islanders trips to the Eastern Conference Final and put up five points in his first six games with Washington.
'There's something about important games and meaningful games that get me, I guess, a little bit more fired up and get my a little bit more focused,' Beauvillier said.
Some of the additions have been more subtle: Laughton has a couple of points and Carlo is playing important minutes for the Maple Leafs as they try to get past the second round for the first time in more than two decades. Schenn and Tanev toughened up Winnipeg, and Walman and Frederic helped the Oilers fill holes vacated by Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway leaving last summer.
Dallas also loaded up beyond Rantanen. General manager Jim Nill's February trade for Cody Ceci and Mikael Granlund, also involving a first-round pick, has paid dividends.
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'I can't say enough about Granlund and what he's brought, Cody Ceci — (without them) we don't get through the first round,' DeBoer said.
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AP Sports Writers Tim Reynolds in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Aaron Beard in Raleigh, North Carolina, Stephen Hawkins in Frisco, Texas, Pat Graham in Denver and the Canadian Press contributed.
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AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
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