Mikko Rantanen is suiting up in Dallas Stars colors now, but stepping back into Ball Arena? Yeah, that’s a whole different story. Sunday’s game against the Avalanche isn’t just another matchup—it’s a homecoming he never wanted. With Colorado hot on Dallas’s heels in the standings, the stakes are high, but for Rantanen, it’s personal. “Obviously, it’s going to be emotional,” he admitted, knowing that every cheer, every boo, every look from the crowd will remind him of what he lost.

He didn’t walk away by choice—far from it. “Never wanted to leave,” he said, holding nothing back. He played his heart out for this city, for these fans, and now, he’s bracing himself for whatever reaction they throw his way. “Hopefully [it’s] positive from the fans,” he added, hoping Denver still remembers the good times. And man, that trade! It hit him like a freight train.

One day he’s an Ave, the next he’s shipped to Carolina, no heads-up, no say in it. “Obviously, first couple days [in Carolina] were a little shock, for sure,” he admitted, still processing how fast everything changed. He never made a list of teams, never planned for an exit. He just got caught in the business facet of the game—something even bigger names have dealt with. “Better players than me have been traded in the history of NHL,” he said, trying to make peace with it.

But the sting of leaving never really faded. And now, Mikko Rantanen’s heartfelt confession about his Colorado Avalanche exit has NHL fans fired up as he braces for an emotional return to Denver. One line from Mikko Rantanen hit fans right in the feels, and they just couldn’t shake it off. Jesse Montano, covering the Colorado Avalanche for @guerillasports_-@gs_off_ice, took to X on March 15 and dropped the bombshell: “I never wanted to leave” – Mikko Rantanen.” And that’s all it took for the floodgates to open.

One fan couldn’t help but make a wild throwback, chiming in with, “With the knowledge that Rantanen didn’t want to leave, this feels similar to the Broncos Dumervil situation where he ended up leaving due to a late fax from Kinko’s. Seems Mikko’s agent took too hard a stance with Avs front office.” And, oh boy, that comparison hit like a slap shot to the face. For those who need a little refresher, back in 2013, Elvis Dumervil had a deal to stay in Denver, agreeing to a $4-million pay cut. But then? Chaos. Just as the deadline struck 4 p.m. ET, the Broncos got word that he had accepted the deal—only for absolute mayhem to unfold.

Nine minutes too late, and boom—Mike Klis of the Denver Post dropped the hammer: Dumervil’s contract didn’t get filed in time, and just like that, he was a free agent. What followed? A full-blown blame game between player, agent, and front office. Now, history might not be exactly repeating itself, but NHL fans are seeing shades of that same messy drama, and let’s just say—they’re not thrilled. But this was just the beginning!

Mikko Rantanen’s statement makes fans furious!

Another fan jumped into the chaos, bluntly saying, “Then don’t ask for $14mil.” But here’s where things get real messy. Just days ago, a report from Yardbarker spilled the tea—turns out, Mikko Rantanen actually tried everything to stay with the Colorado Avalanche. According to Daily Faceoff, the guy even shaved $2 million off his asking price to make a deal work. And yet, despite bending over backward, the Avs still shipped him out the next day over a $400K gap.

With that detail out in the open, it’s no surprise fans couldn’t help but say, “… money on the table.” Because, let’s be real, seeing a franchise player practically beg to stay—only to be let go over a fraction of his worth—well, that’s the kind of drama that leaves NHL fans fuming.

Another fan jumped in, dropping their two cents: “I don’t doubt it, but he also wanted the paycheck. And he (or his agent, at least) wanted the $ more.” And honestly? That take wasn’t exactly out of left field. Because when it was all said and done, the hockey universe got its answer on March 9th. That day, the stars (literally) aligned—Mikko Rantanen and the Dallas Stars sealed the deal with an offer too good to refuse.

After weeks of back-and-forth, trade whispers, and pure chaos, Rantanen found his new home in Dallas, signing an eight-year, $96 million contract right after the Hurricanes sent him packing. With free agency looming and no long-term deal in sight, Carolina did what Colorado had done before—let him go. Thirteen games in, and it was déjà vu. So naturally, some fans just had one thing to say: “Oh stop it man he wanted money and that’s fine. Just admit it and move on.” Are you also on the same page? Or do you have any other take on it? Let us know in the comments!