Mikko Rantanen was the 10th overall selection in the 2015 NHL Draft by the Avalanche. He was 18 years old when he was selected and was the top-rated European skater. Rantanen signed a three-year entry-level deal with the Avs ahead of the 2015 season.

Rantanen wasn’t done moving, either. He declined to sign a contract extension with the Hurricanes before the trade deadline, so one of the 10-15 best players in the world was traded again, and this time to the franchise that knocked the Avalanche out of the playoffs in 2020 and 2024.

Mikko Rantanen was at ease Friday when talking about the excitement of starting the playoffs, which the standout forward experienced with the Colorado Avalanche each of the past seven seasons that included a Stanley Cup title.