Nathan MacKinnon may have landed in Sweden with a smile for the 2025 IIHF Men’s World Championship, but emotions were clearly mixed. After the Colorado Avalanche’s painful Game 7 loss in the first round of the playoffs, he had to talk about a topic that still stings—former teammate Mikko Rantanen, who scored a hat trick to send the Avalanche packing.
Rantanen, once a core part of Colorado’s offense, was traded earlier this season due to a contract dispute. The deal eventually led him to the Dallas Stars, where he’s now dominating the playoffs. When asked about the trade and his old friend, MacKinnon gave a heartfelt but cautious response.
Rantanen’s Trade and Rise With the Stars
The Avalanche and Rantanen couldn’t agree on a contract extension early in the season. That disagreement led to a trade to the Carolina Hurricanes, who then flipped him to the Dallas Stars before the deadline. Dallas wasted no time—giving Rantanen a massive eight-year, $96-million extension.
Rantanen responded by leading all players in the playoffs with eight goals and 15 points in just eight games. His Game 7 performance, which included a third-period hat trick, knocked his old team out of the playoffs. It felt like a revenge story written by the hockey gods.
MacKinnon Reacts to the Trade
When asked directly whether trading Rantanen was a mistake, MacKinnon didn’t offer a clear answer. Instead, he chose his words carefully:
“It’s tough to say… Obviously, I’d love to have him on the team, but he’s not on the team… Definitely miss him.”
MacKinnon and Rantanen had played together since the 2015–16 season, sharing a Stanley Cup win in 2022 and many great moments. Losing a friend and star teammate in such fashion is clearly difficult, and MacKinnon admitted that the bond they had will always remain.
Game 7 Reflections and Frustrations
MacKinnon also discussed how the Avalanche lost Game 7 to Dallas. The team had a 2-0 lead with just 10 minutes to go but gave up two power-play opportunities due to late penalties. Dallas took full advantage and flipped the game around.
“I think some of those penalties were… I don’t know if those are playoff Game 7 penalties, but it is what it is,” MacKinnon said, still visibly disappointed. He added that although it’s a first-round loss, it came against a very strong team, and he still believes in the Avalanche’s potential.
Looking Ahead: New Goals for MacKinnon
Now in Stockholm with Team Canada, MacKinnon is shifting focus to international hockey. Canada faces Slovakia next, and MacKinnon will aim to turn the page by going after a different kind of trophy—the World Championship title.
While the Avalanche’s early playoff exit hurts, MacKinnon remains driven and motivated. The memories with Rantanen remain close to his heart, but for now, there’s another battle waiting on the ice.
