How the Dallas Stars’ 2017 Draft Class Became a Game-Changer
Every NHL franchise dreams of the perfect draft class, one that delivers a franchise defenseman, a franchise forward, and a franchise goaltender. The Dallas Stars struck gold in 2017, achieving this rare trifecta. The trio of Miro Heiskanen, Jason Robertson, and Jake Oettinger have become the backbone of the team, transforming the Stars into a perennial Stanley Cup contender.
It’s no wonder that Stars general manager Jim Nill has been hesitant to trade away draft picks. Yet, at the recent trade deadline, Nill made a bold move that surprised many: trading a pair of first-round picks, three second-round picks, and the once highly-touted prospect Logan Stankoven for Mikko Rantanen.
This trade was a clear statement of intent, signaling that the Stars are ready to deviate from their draft-and-develop strategy to seize the opportunity to win now. “It’s two things: It’s where our team’s at, and it’s Mikko Rantanen,” Nill explained. “A lot of times when you go into a trade, it’s for an older player that has two or three years left in his career. Mikko is in the prime of his career. He’s one of the elite power forwards in the game, and with where we’re drafting, when do you get a chance to get a player like that? Just because of unique circumstances, he was available.”
Following the trade, the Stars signed Rantanen to an eight-year contract extension worth $12 million annually, underscoring their belief that he can help them capture the elusive Stanley Cup, a feat they haven’t achieved since 1999.
How Did the Stars Land Rantanen?
Rantanen, who played for the division rival Colorado Avalanche, was well-known to the Stars’ front office. They admired his talent but never imagined he could join their ranks. “You’re not even looking in [Rantanen’s] direction when you’re analyzing your team and trying to make changes,” Nill said. “It was never really even an option for us.”
That changed when Rantanen was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes on January 24. Despite his brief stint with the Hurricanes, where he scored six points in 13 games, the lack of a contract extension fueled speculation that he might be on the move again.
About two weeks before the trade deadline, the Hurricanes began exploring the market for Rantanen. “We were one of the teams they called to see if there was interest,” Nill said. “With about a week to 10 days before the trade deadline, we said, ‘You know what? Let’s look at it,’ but still not thinking that was the direction we were going to go.”
The Stars’ Strategic Shift
Several factors aligned to make the trade possible. Injuries to Tyler Seguin and Heiskanen freed up $18.3 million in cap space, allowing the Stars to absorb Rantanen’s contract. Additionally, the Chicago Blackhawks retained 50% of Rantanen’s salary in a previous trade, making his cap hit more manageable for Dallas.
The Stars’ decision to trade for Rantanen marks a significant shift from their traditional approach. Historically, they’ve relied on a farm system that produced key players on team-friendly contracts. But with Rantanen’s arrival, the Stars are embracing a new strategy, one that involves making bold moves to capitalize on their championship window.
- Rantanen’s contract: $9.25 million annually, with 50% retained by the Blackhawks.
- Stars’ cap space post-trade: $5.32 million, per PuckPedia.
- Potential departures: Jamie Benn, Matt Duchene, Evgenii Dadonov, Cody Ceci, Mikael Granlund.
Despite the challenges, the Stars’ front office believes in the team’s potential. “I think it shows confidence in the group that we have and what we’ve been doing this year,” Benn said. “Our draft picks over the last few years have set us up to succeed. When you make a move like that for a player like Mikko, it gives your group a lot of confidence. Now it’s on us as players to take advantage of it.”
As the Stars navigate this new era, the pressure is on to deliver results. With Rantanen in the fold, the team is poised to make a serious run at the Stanley Cup, both now and in the years to come.
Originally Written by: Ryan S. Clark
