Call Him Mikko, Not Moose

Dallas Should Ditch the Moose Moniker for Mikko

Mikko Rantanen has lit the city of Dallas, the state of Texas, and the entire NHL on fire. 

He has 14 points in the Stars’ last four games. That includes back-to-back hat tricks in Game 7 vs. the Avalanche and Game 1 vs. the Jets. He has also set a new Stanley Cup Playoff record by recording a point on 12 consecutive goals for the Stars. 

These mind-boggling stats have caught the attention of casual sports fans in Dallas and across Texas. Even down in Austin, I am stopped in public by folks who see my Stars regalia and want to talk about how unbelievable that new Finnish guy is. His popularity is at an all-time high; it's time to capitalize on it and make Mikko the new face of Dallas. 

Moose is the nickname that Mikko earned in Colorado with his powerful style of play. The comparison highlights the incredible speed and strength that Mikko displays on the ice. If you know anything about moose, you know it is high praise for the power forward. 

But the name Moose is a Colorado creation—the same Colorado team that the golden-age Stars battled in the late 90s, the same team that the current Stars have knocked out of the playoffs in three of the past five years, and most importantly, the same team that disrespected a superstar and shipped him across the country when the last thing he wanted to do was leave Colorado. 

The Mavericks took Luka away from Dallas fans in a similar way. Seemingly in the dead of night, the five-time NBA All-Star, less than a year removed from the Mavs' first Finals appearance since Dirk Nowitzki won in 2011, was traded to the Lakers - even though it was perfectly clear his heart was in Dallas. 

Even after being traded, Luka received undeserved criticism from the Mavs management, saying he was not determined enough to win, was a poor defender, and (the most meme-able accusation) was consistently overweight. 

Similarly, Mikko received undue flak from the Avalanche. Some idiotically claimed he just wasn't that good, only garnering success due to his linemate Nathan MacKinnon; they jeered "MacKinnon Merchant" at him. The Colorado management said he demanded too much money and was inflexible with contract negotiations, which Mikko and others have refuted.

The difference is the fans' reactions. Dallas was and still is righteously furious with the decision to move on from their beloved superstar Luka. Colorado bought the greedy Mikko narrative hook, line, and sinker. 

They booed Mikko every time he touched the puck. Think about that: a player who was instrumental in bringing a championship to Denver in 2022, who never wanted to leave, is now being booed by his former home crowd. If a star athlete brought a championship to Dallas, we would lay down palm leaves and give him the key to the city. 

The memory of a fanbase like that does not deserve to live on, even in the nickname of the newest Stars phenom. This is a new era for Dallas and Mikko, and it’s happening just after we suffered the worst betrayal a sports team has ever committed against its own fans.

So let’s honor Luka’s legacy in Dallas while moving on, just like he is. Let’s signify that the stink of Mikko's treatment by Colorado will be left in the past. Let’s start another golden-age for Dallas sports with a new European superstar at the helm. Let’s call him Mikko.