Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen is facing a near-six-figure fine for missing mandatory military service in Finland in 2024, according to multiple reports from various Finnish media outlets.
In the spring of 2024, while Rantanen was playing for the Colorado Avalanche, the Finn was supposed to arrive for military service April 15 but instead submitted an application to change his start date and mandatory arrival time, according to Helsingin Sanomat, the largest subscription newspaper in Finland and the Nordic countries.
The Avalanche’s season had not yet ended at that point, so Rantanen was still actively competing at the time of his report date.
While Rantanen’s application was approved two days later, the Finnish military is still considering him guilty of an unauthorized absence. The penalty is a fine of 10-15 days of salary, which at the time would have been up to 85,000 euros or $99,000.
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A spokesperson for the Dallas Stars declined to comment on the matter, and Rantanen’s agent Andy Scott did not immediately respond to The Dallas Morning News’ requests for comment.
Every Finnish man over the age of 18 is required to serve in the military. Utah Jazz player Lauri Markkanen, who is also from Finland, posted a photo in his uniform on social media in the 2023 offseason when he completed his service.
The Finnish outlet Ilta-Sanomat reported earlier this offseason that Stars forward Roope Hintz was exempt from his service.
Rantanen joined the Stars ahead of the trade deadline last season in a blockbuster deal with the Carolina Hurricanes. The Stars traded four draft picks and forward Logan Stankoven in exchange for Rantanen, whom they immediately signed to an eight-year, $96 million contract extension.
Rantanen recorded five goals and 13 assists in 20 regular season games for Dallas and nine goals and 13 assists in 18 playoff games. For much of the playoffs before the Stars’ elimination, he led the NHL in points.
He was also one of the first players selected to Finland’s 2026 Winter Olympic team in Milan. Former Stars forward Jere Lehtinen, who is now the general manager for Finland’s national team, told The News the fine and missed service will not impact his status on the Olympic team next winter.
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