Mikko Rantanen’s journey has come full circle. After nearly playing for a decade with the Colorado Avalanche, he was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes on January 24, 2025, but then fate had other plans for him! In case you think he stepped out due to an injury or anything else, you are wrong. Because, after spending about one and a half months with the Hurricanes, he was swiftly shipped off to the Dallas Stars at the 11th hour just before the NHL trade deadline. However, no one saw this coming, and it has been a total whirlwind.

But just like that, Rantanen found himself on the other side of the ice, gearing up to face the team that had once been his home—where he became a fan favorite and helped lift the Stanley Cup. Yes, the Avs! On March 16, Rantanen was at the Ball Arena playing for the Stars, where he received a mixed bag of emotions for being a former Av. The crowd was split, with some appreciating the ex-Avs star player with nostalgia, while others booed him for hitting the ice for the Dallas Stars, who are the Avs’ central division nemesis.

The Avalanche-Stars rivalry was already intense, and this game had something extra to offer to its spectators. A wave of reactions swept through the arena, with some fans cheering, some chanting “Mooooooose,” and some booing! It was complete chaos among the spectators. The Avalanche beat writer Evan Rawal shared this on X by writing, “Some booing, some ‘Mooooooose’ and some cheers for Mikko Rantanen, who looked emotional when they cut to him.” And fans quickly rallied around Rantanen with their love and support.

The stars fought hard to secure a win against the Avs. After all, it was Rantanen’s long-awaited return too, which led fans to experience all the emotions one could expect. But, the stars lost in 3-4. Rantanen saw his team score two goals in 20 seconds that tied the game later, and that was amazing, but only until Cale Makar silenced them with the game-winning goal in overtime. “I’ll remember it for the rest of my life. It’s only time you can come back here, for the first time. Very special moment to get the video, and the reception from the fans,” Rantanen said after the match, reflecting back on his return to Colorado after a long time.

But then came the moment that had everyone talking. It was a surreal atmosphere for a player who gave the Avs everything for nearly a decade to hear him criticise now! Well, that’s heartbreaking! Because, this time, it wasn’t about the loss or the score, but for Rantanen, what mattered was home and love from a fanbase that had been a crucial part throughout his career journey. However, even though some booed, a few stood by the star to offer all their love and support after such harsh treatment.

Fans hugged Mikko Rantanen with warm words!

Some directly questioned, “Can literally anyone explain why he got booed by anybody? He did nothing wrong.” To understand why he faced such harsh treatment. It’s true that fans were not happy to see their star player leave the Avs, but then this was a decision beyond his control! And, this comment just highlighted their confusion and frustration over the incident. While some go on to say, “He doesn’t deserve to be booed. I’m glad he got some cheers and moose chants. The dude helped win us a cup and he’s just a genuine good guy,” pointing out his records and defending why he shouldn’t have been in this place.

But what made this comment more interesting is when they added, “Hockey is a business, it sucks but come on…” Reflecting their understanding of the nature of the sport while expressing disappointment that the player’s personal integrity and past efforts weren’t enough to shield him from the criticism! One of them expressed their gratitude while writing, “Glad to see the crowd showing some love.” This shows that there was a positive reaction from the fans too! Well, this brings a sense of relief. Another one expressed a lasting gratitude for what Rantanen achieved during his time with the team, saying, “I’m so happy what he’s achieved with us and I’m always gonna miss him.”

“SHOULDVE been no boos” – this is exactly what the fan tried to point out. Even though the frustration was valid, it isn’t necessary to boo the players all the time! This one feels it’s just wrong to boo someone who contributed so much and is genuinely a good person. Hence, they indicate the community to be more appreciative, and honor the player’s legacy.