Stars forward Mikko Rantanen finished season with torn MCL; team wants Robertson and Benn back

TL;DR

Mikko Rantanen suffered a torn MCL during the Olympics, affecting his performance for the Dallas Stars this season. The team is also focused on retaining key players Jason Robertson and Jamie Benn as they head into the offseason.

Key points

Mikko Rantanen suffered a torn MCL during the Olympics.
He missed 15 games and struggled upon his return.
Dallas Stars want to retain Jason Robertson and Jamie Benn.
Rantanen did not require surgery for his injury.

Mikko RantanenDallas StarsJason RobertsonJamie Benn

FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Mikko Rantanen sustained a torn MCL in his knee during the Olympics, an injury that Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill says kept their standout forward from being himself the rest of the season. Rantanen missed 15 games for the Stars after getting hurt while playing for bronze medal-winning Finland in February. He returned for the final 10 games of the regular season. He had only one goal and four assists in that span, then one goal and six assists when they lost their first-round playoff series to Minnesota in six games. “Major injury. Came back, he's very competitive,” Nill said Thursday during his season-ending availability. “Did he come back too soon? Not too soon, but would have been nice to have one or two more weeks to really settle in. He never really got going again.” In 54 games before the Olympics, Rantanen had 21 goals and 51 assists. The Stars got him in a deadline deal last season, signed him to a $96 million, eight-year extension, and he then an remarkable postseason with nine goals and 13 assists in 18 games when they made the Western Conference final for the third year in a row. Dallas was done after one round this year, and Rantanen wasn't the only player dealing with a significant injury. Nill said Rantanen didn’t have and won’t require any surgery, and will benefit from having some extended time off along with so many of their other players. “We never had one game where we had a full lineup this whole season and the playoffs,” Nill said “Hard to believe, I’ve never seen that before.” The Stars also go into an offseason when 45-goal scorer can become a restricted free agent and with pondering a decision on whether to return for an 18th NHL season, all in Dallas. “We want him to be a Dallas Star the rest of his career,” Nill said of Robertson, while adding they also want Benn back. Top-line center missed the first four games after the Olympics because of illness, then in his only game since. That was after the Stars in December lost to an ACL injury. , their top defenseman, missed the final three games of the regular season after an oblique tear and then sprained an ankle during the playoffs. suffered a concussion during the Olympics and then when getting close to returning for the Stars suffered a laceration on his foot after it was sliced by a skate. He played the last two regular-season games and throughout the playoffs, but Nill said the still serious injury may require further surgery. Midseason acquisition played only one playoff game after a groin injury late in the season. Nill said defenseman , who against the Wild, could have possibly returned had that series gotten to a Game 7. “A very lucky man. The skate ended up hitting him, really hit into him more than anything,” Nill said. “He had stitches inside and outside, but he also had a concussion.” \\_ AP NHL playoffs: and

Q&A

What injury did Mikko Rantanen sustain during the Olympics?

Mikko Rantanen sustained a torn MCL in his knee while playing for Finland during the Olympics.

How did Rantanen's injury impact his performance with the Dallas Stars?

Rantanen missed 15 games and struggled upon his return, scoring only one goal and four assists in the final 10 games of the regular season.

What are the Dallas Stars' plans for Jason Robertson and Jamie Benn?

The Dallas Stars want to retain Jason Robertson, who can become a restricted free agent, and they hope longtime captain Jamie Benn will return for another season.

Did Mikko Rantanen require surgery for his torn MCL?

No, Mikko Rantanen did not require surgery for his torn MCL and will benefit from extended time off.

Stars forward Mikko Rantanen finished season with torn MCL; team wants Robertson and Benn back

TL;DR

Key points

Q&A

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