Terrence Lee-Imagn Images

From Mikko Rantanen to Maripier Morin (and Carey Price)

Originally posted on Dose.ca | Last updated May 8, 2025 12:50 PM ET

An athlete will always be only as good as his or her most recent performance(s). Call it sports recency bias.

In mid-January, Rantanen was on track for a third consecutive 100-point season with the Avalanche.

Then BOOM! He was traded to the Hurricanes for Jack Drury, Martin Necas and others.

Except that Rantanen had no desire to go to Carolina… and no intention of signing a new contract with the Hurricanes. As a result, he wasn’t playing up to his talent.

After 13 games with the Canes, he had just six points (including two goals). Many began to say that he needed Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar to produce, and that without them, he was just another player.

Then BOOM! He was traded to the Dallas Stars in return for Logan Stankoven and draft picks. He signed a new $96 million contract (over eight years) and became the player he was in Colorado.

As a result, this morning he is the playoffs’ leading scorer (15) and top scorer (8).

Mikko Rantanen is back from the dead in Dallas.(Credit: Getty Images)

Yesterday, he collected his second hat trick in as many games… and his 14th point in four games.

Need I remind you that his first hat trick was used to eliminate his former team? #WhatHistory

All this to say that, yes, an athlete performs better when he feels good and wants to play for a particular team. Yes, sometimes mental and off-ice factors explain performance on the ice.

The Rantanen episode in Carolina will go down in history as an anomaly in Rantanen’s superb career. Nothing more, nothing less!

Extension

– Mike Ward, Luc Boucher and MC Gilles went where I would NEVER have dared to go publicly (even if some people think I have no moral compass). They talked about Maripier Morin, powder , Carey Price and children “elsewhere” on the most recent episode of Sous écoute. What exactly did they talk about? I’ll let you find out for yourselves. I don’t feel like receiving (another) formal notice..

@rirehumourqc #mikeward #mcgilles #lucboucher #careyprice #maripiermorin #mariepierremorin #mariepiermorin #sousecoute #sousécoute #podcast #humour #trash #blague #rire #drole #spectacle #sketch #jonas #canadien #canadiens #canadiendemontreal #canadiensdemontreal #canadiensdemontréal #nhl #lnh #hockey #sport #brendangallagher #brandonprust #stat #miseaujeu #montreal #montréal #quebec #québec #laval #sherbrooke #montreal #brossard #sherbrooke ♬ original sound – RireHumourQc

– I asked someone this morning what was going on with Hennadii Synchuk, who I spotted on crutches Saturday at Stade Saputo. His answer: “He won’t need surgery, but he shouldn’t be back in action at best before the June 14 game in Houston.”

UPDATE! From what I understand, Hennadii Synchuk should be able to avoid surgery. He currently has a foot/ankle injury.

I know it’s vague, but I’ve just been told that Synchuk is expected to be out 6-12 weeks on the #CFMTL roster…

– Maxime Truman (@MaximeTruman) May 8, 2025

– RDS was supposed to broadcast the Montreal CF’s game against the Columbus Crew next Wednesday, but will show hockey instead: Rocket and QMJHL. MLS has allowed RDS to broadcast another match (to be determined) later this summer. That said, with the current difficulties and the two hockey games, ratings would have been pretty low on Wednesday. Might as well give it a shot in a few weeks/months until then..

Every year, RDS broadcasts 14 of the 34 regular #CFMTL games on its airwaves.

According to the original schedule, RDS was to broadcast the club’s next 2 games: Saturday at @newyorkcityfc and next Wednesday vs @ColumbusCrew in Montreal.

However, Wednesday’s game… pic.twitter.com/J0DrXvrRyG

– Maxime Truman (@MaximeTruman) May 8, 2025