Stars' Mikko Rantanen gets revenge on Avalanche in Game 7

He spent the first nine-and-a-half years of his career in Colorado and became a star, helping the team win a Stanley Cup in 2022. Despite that, the Avalanche traded him at the deadline this year because they were unable to get him signed to a new contract extension. He originally went to the Carolina Hurricanes for Martin Necas and Jack Drury.

But when Carolina was also unable to get Rantanen signed, the Hurricanes traded him to Dallas (where he eventually signed a new contract extension that Colorado and Carolina failed to get) to put him right back in Colorado's division. 

Seeing him on the opposite side of the ice in the first round was a potential nightmare scenario.

Watching him play the key role in eliminating them had to make it even worse. 

It's also a big statement for Rantanen.

One of the knocks on Rantanen was that a lot of his production in recent years came on a line with Nathan MacKinnon, and when he did not immediately produce big numbers away from him, there was some doubt he could be the player to carry a team or an offense.

He put that argument to rest on Saturday. 

Saturday's Game 7 win aside, this was a huge series win for the Stars.

Not only did they knock off a potential Stanley Cup contender, they did so without getting a single game from two of their best players in forward Jason Robertson and defenseman Miro Heiskanen due to injury.

Getting through a series without them is a huge statement, and should also fill Stars fans with optimism for how good they can be when both players return.