Stars Welcome Mikko Rantanen to Dallas ‘Finnish Mafia’

The winger arrived in Dallas having scored 70 points in 62 games. He notched a goal and an assist in his debut with the Stars, making it 72 points in 63 games this season.

Stars head coach Pete DeBoer emphasized that Rantanen’s biggest challenge will be adjusting off the ice, not on it.

“When a guy comes in, for me, 20 percent of this is going to be about hockey,” DeBoer said. “He’s been well-coached and won a Stanley Cup. The systems are the systems, he’s going to have to get used to some linemates and his role on our team. 

”This is going to be 80 percent comfortable off the ice, and we’ve got a really good leadership group that’s going to help with that.”

Duchene previously played with Rantanen in Colorado and was among the first to welcome him to Dallas, where he's been playing for two years now.

“He and I have kept in touch since we played together,” Duchene said. “It just seemed like it came out of nowhere, but it was a nice surprise for us for sure. 

”He’s done the thing that a lot of us are trying to do — he’s won.”