Mikko Rantanen Reveals His Message To The Avalanche Just Before Being Traded

Mikko Rantanen's world has been turned upside down several times this season, but after settling in as a member of the Dallas Stars, he was quick to refute comments made by his former coach Rod Brind'Amour, making it clear that he came to Carolina with an open mind before being traded.

Ahead of his return to Colorado on Sunday night, Rantanen also addressed his departure from the Avalanche, which came as a shock to everyone in the NHL, stating that up until the trade, that shocked him as much as anyone, telling the team he wanted to remain there long-term.

This makes it even more understandable while Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar and the rest of his former teammates were heartbroken to learn of the trade, as up until the deal, Rantanen believed he'd be able to get a deal done that kept him in Colorado long-term.

It's unclear exactly what happened between the organization and Rantanen's agent that ultimately made the team believe a trade was the best move, but it's certainly a move that's changed the landscape of the entire NHL after another trade sent him back to the Central Division with the Dallas Stars.

Perhaps one day fans will learn exactly why Colorado felt this was the best move to make, but for now, both teams are focused on the future, and with Rantanen returning to Colorado for the first time on Sunday, he's certainly going to get a very interesting reaction.