Mikko Rantanen figures he would have left the room in disbelief had someone told him at the beginning of this season that he would score a hat track in a Game 7 against Colorado. After all, that was the organization with which he made his NHL debut just weeks before his 19th birthday.

The Avalanche traded Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes on Jan. 24, only to watch the Hurricanes flip him to their Central Division rivals on March 7. The pending unrestricted free agent signed an eight-year, $96 million contract with the Stars.

Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen’s performance in Game 7 against the Colorado Avalanche not only sent his team to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs but also sparked strong commentary from a former NHL standout.