
Mikko Rantanen was born on October 29, 1996 in Nousiainen, Finland. The left-shot forward played for the TPS U16 team during the 2010-11 season and scored a total of 11 goals with 22 assists in 29 games. One of his teammates was current Colorado Avalanche goaltender Artturi Lehkonen. Rantanen became captain of the team during the next season and registered 13 goals with 22 assists in 16 games before joining the U18 team, where he played 22 games and totaled five goals with eight assists.
Rantanen spent the next two seasons with the U20 team and scored 15 goals with 27 assists in 57 total games before joining the TPS team in the Liiga League. During the 2014-15 season, Rantanen played 56 games and collected nine goals and 19 assists. Rantanen was captain of Finland’s World Junior Championships team, which won the Gold Medal in 2016.
Mikko Rantanen Stats & Salary Cap
The Colorado Avalanche Drafted Mikko Rantanen in the First Round of the 2015 NHL Draft
Rantanen was drafted with the tenth overall draft pick in the 2015 NHL Draft by the Colorado Avalanche. On July 14, 2015, Rantanen signed a three-year, entry-level contract with Colorado worth $2.68 million. Rantanen played 52 games with the San Antonio Rampage of the American Hockey League and scored 24 goals with 36 assists, and was named AHL Rookie of the Year.
Mikko Rantanen’s NHL Debut to Today
On October 8, 2015, Mikko Rantanen made his NHL debut with the Avalanche in a game against the Minnesota Wild, playing 7:24 of ice time over ten shifts. Rantanen scored his first NHL goal against the Winnipeg Jets on November 11, 2016. On September 28, 2019, Rantanen signed a six-year, $55.5 million extension to stay in Colorado. Rantanen has recorded ten hat tricks in his career and played ten seasons with Colorado, recording 287 goals and 394 assists. Rantanen played in two All-Star games and won the Stanley Cup in 2002.
On January 24, 2025, Rantanen was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in a three-team trade. Rantanen will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2024-25 season.

Season 4. Episode 22. 4 Nations LIVE – Bruins Benders Podcast
Discover more from Inside The Rink
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.