Where is the Mikko Rantanen who took over a series last year? Stars need to find him soon

DALLAS — There was a moment, in the midst of it all, when even Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen had to stop, take a breath and realize how bonkers this all was.“Probably back-to-back hat tricks,” Rantanen said sheepishly. “I didn’t expect that to happen.”Rantanen elevated his game to stratospheric levels last spring, posting eight goals and six assists in a four-game span, including a one-period hat trick in Game 7 against the Colorado Avalanche, and another one-period hat trick in Game 1 against the Winnipeg Jets. He was so good, so dominant, that it bordered on the absurd. It validated every bit of Dallas’ belief in him — general manager Jim Nill sending two first-round draft picks and dynamic young forward Logan Stankoven to the Carolina Hurricanes to get him, then promptly handing him an eight-year contract at $12 million per year. Worth every penny.Advertisement