Mikko Rantanen, a key forward for the Dallas Stars, is facing the consequences of aggressive plays, and it's sparking debate across the NHL. Is it just tough hockey, or are these plays crossing the line? Rantanen will be automatically suspended for one game due to repeated ejections, raising questions about his on-ice conduct and its impact on his team.
Here's the breakdown: Rantanen received a game misconduct during Saturday's game against the Calgary Flames, a 3-2 shootout loss for the Stars. The penalty occurred late in the second period when he boarded Flames forward Matt Coronato from behind. While Coronato managed to finish the game, Flames coach Ryan Huska didn't mince words, calling it "a terrible hit." This incident marked Rantanen's second ejection within just three games.
But here's where it gets controversial... The NHL's Department of Player Safety decided not to hold a hearing for Rantanen regarding this latest infraction. Instead, they're relying on Rule 23.6 of the NHL rulebook. This rule mandates an automatic one-game suspension when a player accumulates two game misconduct penalties in the "Physical Infractions Category" within a span of 41 regular-season games. So, while the hit was deemed worthy of ejection, it wasn't deemed worthy of further review or a potentially longer suspension.
This suspension means Rantanen will be sidelined for Tuesday night's highly anticipated game against the Edmonton Oilers. This game is a rematch of last year's Western Conference final, a series the Oilers won in five games. Rantanen's absence could significantly impact the Stars' chances in what's sure to be a hard-fought contest.
And this is the part most people miss... It's not just about one game. Rantanen, at 29 years old, is a crucial offensive contributor for the Stars. He's currently tied with Jason Robertson for the team lead in points, boasting 28 points (10 goals and 18 assists) in 22 games. However, his two ejections also mean he now leads the team with a whopping 57 penalty minutes. This juxtaposition highlights a potential issue: Can the Stars afford to lose Rantanen's offensive firepower due to penalties?
Saturday's incident followed another ejection earlier in the week. Last Tuesday, during a 3-2 loss to the New York Islanders, Rantanen was ejected for boarding defenseman Alexander Romanov late in the game. That hit drew a very strong reaction from Islanders coach Patrick Roy, who launched into a profane tirade as Rantanen left the ice, later branding the hit "disrespectful." Roy, who knows Rantanen from his time with the Colorado Avalanche, even questioned whether that type of play should be part of any player's game. "I'm going to say is [that] when you see the number, you have to lay off. Everybody knows that. You don't go through the guy," Roy said.
The impact of that hit on Romanov is also significant. Romanov has been placed on injured reserve with an upper-body injury and is expected to be out for an extended period. This adds another layer to the situation, potentially making Rantanen's actions seem even more reckless.
Interestingly, Rantanen has no prior history of supplemental discipline from the NHL during his 11-year career, which included stints with Colorado and Carolina before landing in Dallas. Before this suspension, his only interaction with the NHL's Department of Player Safety was related to an embellishment fine. This raises the question: Are these recent incidents an anomaly, or a sign of a change in Rantanen's playing style?
What do you think? Was the one-game suspension sufficient punishment? Are these hits simply part of the game, or are they dangerous and deserving of harsher penalties? Should the Department of Player Safety have held a hearing for Rantanen, given the potential for injury on both plays? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
