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With the 2024 NFL draft in the rearview mirror, college football has officially waved goodbye to many of its top players.

Six quarterbacks were taken in the first round alone, including two Heisman Trophy winners. So who’s next?

Below you’ll find all 32 first-round picks from last Thursday’s NFL draft and who their likely successor will be according to ESPN’s college football staff.

Replacement: Miller Moss

Though Lincoln Riley has refused to officially name him the starter, longtime USC backup Miller Moss is slated to replace Williams — at least this season. Moss has been biding his time, refusing to transfer and instead hoping that his belief and talent will earn him the job. When given the opportunity in last year’s Holiday Bowl, Moss delivered, throwing for six touchdowns in the win. Riley said after this year’s spring game that Moss has the inside track on the job, but nothing is certain just yet. — Paolo Uggetti


Replacement: Garrett Nussmeier

The Tigers are undergoing a complete makeover on offense after Daniels, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, and his two 1,000-yard receivers, Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr., were selected in the first round. Former LSU offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock departed for Notre Dame as well. LSU coach Brian Kelly promoted quarterbacks coach Joe Sloan and receivers coach/passing game coordinator Cortez Hankton to co-offensive coordinators, with Sloan taking over the playcalling.

The good news? Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier is more than ready to take over. He waited three seasons behind Daniels and was MVP of the ReliaQuest Bowl after passing for 395 yards with three scores in a 35-31 victory over Wisconsin. — Mark Schlabach


Replacement: Max Johnson or Conner Harrell

Through 15 spring practices, North Carolina coach Mack Brown remains undecided about who will replace Maye. Johnson, who transferred in from Texas A&M, has far more starting and playing experience. But Harrell was in the offense last year as a backup to Maye.

Brown said in his post-spring news conference he just wants to see more consistency to help him make a decision. “I go back and forth,” Brown said. “One day, I’ll walk off and say, ‘God, he was great. The other one struggled a little bit.’ And then the next day, I’ll say, ‘That one had confidence. He had a hot hand, but I don’t know.’ So that’s the good and the bad of it. We just need to get one of them more consistent.” — Andrea Adelson


Replacement: Jeremiah Smith

Senior Emeka Egbuka reminded everyone in Ohio State’s spring game why he’ll be the Buckeyes’ No. 1 target next season with a series of impressive catches, including a one-handed grab along the sideline. But Smith, the No. 4 overall recruit in 2024, dazzled after enrolling early with his ball skills and big-play ability. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound wideout has the potential to follow in Harrison’s footsteps and be a top-five draft pick himself down the line. Once again, the Buckeyes appear to be loaded at wide receiver. — Jake Trotter


5. Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame

Replacement: Charles Jagusah

Alt sat out last season’s Sun Bowl, paving the way for Charles Jagusah to make the start in Notre Dame’s 40-8 win over Oregon State. Jagusah was the first Notre Dame freshman to start at left tackle since … Joe Alt. At 6-7, 330 pounds, Jagusah is an intimidating figure, and as a four-star recruit, he has the pedigree to be a top blocker at a position that’s become an incubator for NFL talent.

Each of the past five starting left tackles for the Irish has become either a first- or second-round draft pick, including three players taken in the top 10. In his lone start in the Sun Bowl, Jagusah had just one blown block — though it did lead to a sack. That’s as many sacks as Alt allowed all season. In other words, Jagusah has some very big shoes to fill. — David Hale


Replacement: CJ Daniels or Zavion Thomas

With Nabers and Thomas off to the NFL draft, the Tigers plucked CJ Daniels (Liberty) and Zavion Thomas (Mississippi State) from the transfer portal. Daniels was a second-team All-Conference USA selection after catching 55 passes for 1,067 yards with 10 touchdowns in 2023. He had seven 100-yard receiving games in 32 contests at Liberty.

Thomas was one of the most explosive kick and punt returners in the SEC during his two seasons with the Bulldogs. He had 40 receptions for 503 yards with one touchdown in 2023, while adding 202 yards on six kickoff returns and 163 yards on 14 punt returns. He averaged 12.4 yards each time he touched the ball last season. Kyren Lacy was LSU’s No. 3 receiver last season, and he figures to become Nussmeier’s primary target in 2024. — Schlabach


Replacement: Elijah Pritchett

With Kadyn Proctor returning at left tackle after transferring to Iowa for a few months and then having a change of heart, Pritchett is the favorite to step in at right tackle and has the most experience. He battled with Proctor last season for a starting spot and played in 13 games. Alabama had only four scholarship tackles this spring and will need to create more depth at a position that has seen a wealth of talent over the years in Tuscaloosa. — Chris Low


Replacement: Will Rogers

Despite a short scare when Rogers — a Mississippi State transfer — reentered the transfer portal following the departure of Kalen DeBoer to Alabama, new head coach Jedd Fisch was able to keep Rogers in Seattle. The fifth-year senior threw for a total of 12,315 passing yards and 94 touchdowns over his four years in Starkville and has the potential to add to his résumé under Fisch’s typically explosive offensive scheme this upcoming season. — Uggetti


Replacement: Jeremiah Hunter

Hunter, a transfer from Cal, started 23 games over his four seasons in Berkeley, totaling 143 receptions, 2,056 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. Hunter led Cal last year with 62 receptions, 703 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns. He enrolled at UW in time to participate in spring ball. — Heather Dinich


Replacement: Alex Orji

Unless Michigan adds a quarterback in the portal, Orji will likely get the first chance to lead the defending national champions. Orji was an effective changeup quarterback in 2023, using his size (6-3, 236 pounds) and athletic ability to rush for 86 yards on 15 carries. But he didn’t attempt a pass and must show significant growth to replace McCarthy’s accuracy and efficiency.

Orji is working with a mostly new-look group of wide receivers, although he will benefit from having standout tight end Colston Loveland in the middle of the field. — Adam Rittenberg


Replacement: Drew Shelton

Shelton missed spring practice after undergoing an offseason surgery that required him to wear a sling. But during the combine, Fashanu praised his likely replacement, saying Shelton has a chance to “be a lot better than I ever was.” Shelton started five games at left tackle in 2022 after Fashanu suffered an injury and made another start at right tackle last season. Assuming he’s ready to go for the season, the 6-5, 306-pound Shelton is primed to finally step into a full-time starting role. — Trotter


12. Bo Nix, QB, Oregon

Replacement: Dillon Gabriel

This is Gabriel’s third school, having played at both UCF and more recently Oklahoma, which is why it’s no surprise the senior has the edge in experience over sophomore UCLA transfer Dante Moore. Coach Dan Lanning said both are quickly learning the system, “but certainly there’s an edge for Dillon with his experience and what he’s done at his previous stops.” Gabriel has 49 career starts and enters the year tied for fourth in NCAA history in career total touchdowns (152). — Dinich


Replacement: Oscar Delp or Benjamin Yurosek

The Bulldogs aren’t going to simply replace Bowers, who was the best tight end in program history. His route running and ability to pick up yards after the catch — as well as his willingness to block and do it well — was a rare combination. Junior Oscar Delp played a lot when Bowers was sidelined with an ankle injury in 2023. Delp becomes the top tight end after catching 24 passes for 284 yards with three touchdowns last season.

Former Stanford star Ben Yurosek was the top tight end in the transfer portal and will arrive in Athens, Georgia, this summer. He had 108 receptions for 1,342 yards in three seasons with the Cardinal, including leading Stanford with 658 receiving yards in 2021. As much as Georgia uses two-tight end sets, sophomore Lawson Luckie and freshmen Jaden Reddell and Colton Heinrich will have opportunities for early playing time as well. — Schlabach


Replacement: Grant Starck

Three players — Grant Starck, Jacob Strand and Nathan Elu — are all possibilities, but Starck, a senior, has the edge in experience. He played in 12 games last year after transferring from Nevada, where he was a starter in 2022. Strand and Elu are both redshirt sophomores who played in a combined eight games last year. Joshua Gray, the only returning starter up front, played opposite Fuaga last year but could be moving inside this season. — Dinich


Replacement: Collins Acheampong

The Bruins’ best player last season won’t be easy to replace, especially after one of the candidates to take his spot — Choe Bryant-Strother — recently entered the transfer portal. New head coach DeShaun Foster has already declared it a “portal position” and the Bruins brought in Collins Acheampong from Miami — a 6-7, 270-pound freshman who has plenty of raw potential — to see if he can fill the void. Foster & Co. also brought in Navy transfer Jacob Busic and converted Devin Aupiu to edge from defensive tackle in order to have multiple options. — Uggetti


Replacement: Alfred Collins

How loaded was Texas at defensive tackle last year? Alfred Collins was honorable mention All-Big 12 despite sharing the field with Murphy, a first-round pick, and Outland Trophy winner T’Vondre Sweat, a second-rounder. Collins, who opted to return for his super senior season, has appeared in 48 games with 12 starts in his career, including recording 22 tackles with 2 tackles for loss, 2 sacks and 2 pass breakups last season. He showed his athletic ability in the spring game by snagging a tipped ball from Quinn Ewers and running it back for a pick-six. — Dave Wilson


Replacement: Quandarrius Robinson

The redshirt senior has waited his turn and saw most of his action on special teams last season. More than any other position under the new regime, the Crimson Tide need pass-rushers to emerge.

Defensive coordinator Kane Wommack said he liked the way Robinson and some of his mates adjusted to the new scheme this spring. A breakout season for the 6-5, 231-pound Robinson would be huge for Alabama, which lost 25 of its 39 sacks last season to the NFL among the trio of Chris Braswell, Justin Eboigbe and Turner. Redshirt junior Keanu Koht and redshirt freshman Qua Russaw are two others to watch at the edge positions. — Low


Replacement: Earnest Greene and Xavier Truss

Georgia’s offensive line should be among the best in the FBS once again. The Bulldogs bring back both starting tackles, Earnest Greene and Xavier Truss, from a unit that led the SEC and ranked seventh in the FBS in sacks allowed (0.93 per game) in 2023. Truss has started 28 games at Georgia; Greene started all 14 as a redshirt freshman. Jamal Meriweather and Monroe Freeling were the top tackle backups in the spring. — Schlabach


19. Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State

Replacement: Patrick Payton, Sione Lolohea or Marvin Jones Jr.

Verse, a transfer from Albany, excelled with the Seminoles. To find his replacement, coach Mike Norvell also turns to a transfer — but this one was a lot more known coming out of high school. Marvin Jones Jr. might have an even higher ceiling. He was a consensus five-star recruit and the No. 2 edge rusher in the country coming out of high school, but his first two seasons at Georgia offered minimal results. He transferred to FSU in January and was among the Seminoles’ most improved players in spring ball. He’s currently behind Patrick Payton and Oregon State transfer Sione Lolohea on the depth chart, but Jones still figures to play a key role in a fierce rotation at edge rusher this season. — Hale


Replacement: Soane Faasolo

Fautanu played both left guard and left tackle at Washington, but he started 15 games last season at the latter. Spring practices in Seattle have indicated that redshirt freshman Soane Faasolo is in the driver’s seat for that position while true freshman Paki Finau has spent ample time as the first-team left tackle. Both aren’t exactly swimming in experience, and there’s a good chance the Huskies look to the portal for more help on the line as a whole. — Uggetti


Replacement: Dani Dennis-Sutton

Dennis-Sutton was a third-team All-Big Ten selection last year despite starting in only three games. He finished his sophomore season with 3.5 sacks, 6 tackles for loss and 2 forced fumbles.

Before that, he was an ESPN true freshman All-American. Penn State coach James Franklin predicted this spring that the 6-5, 270-pound Dennis-Sutton is “going to have a really big year for us” as the team’s top returning pass-rusher. “We need him to take a step this year … and from everything we’ve seen so far, I think he will.” — Trotter


Replacement: Avery Smith

Toledo not only loses Mitchell but Chris McDonald, a third-team All-MAC cornerback, and RJ Delancy, who transferred to Wisconsin. Smith has appeared in 25 games during the past two seasons as a reserve corner, recording 27 tackles. Another name to note is incoming transfer Jadarrius Perkins, who appeared in 23 games at Florida and had 40 tackles, an interception and three pass breakups. — Rittenberg


Replacement: Kyren Lacy

He’s LSU’s top returning wide receiver, having played in 27 games (12 starts) in his past two seasons with the Tigers. He started the final nine games of 2023 and finished third on the team in yards (558) and touchdown receptions (seven) and fourth in receptions (30). Following his redshirt freshman season, Lacy transferred from Louisiana-Lafayette, where he caught 50 passes for 668 yards and 10 touchdowns. — Dinich


Replacement: Domani Jackson

After two seasons at USC, Jackson was one of Alabama’s most important transfers this offseason and immediately steps in as a starter at cornerback. Nick Saban recruited the five-star prospect hard out of high school before the San Diego product decided to stay in California and play for the Trojans. Jackson, who suffered a knee injury as a senior in high school, has elite speed and excellent coverage skills. His experience will be especially valuable in an Alabama cornerback room that will be extremely young in 2024. — Low


Replacement: Raymond Pulido

Morgan — a first-round pick by the Packers — leaves behind big shoes to fill at left tackle, and the question of his replacement will be crucial to the Wildcats’ 2024 season. In the Alamo Bowl, 6-6, 335-pound sophomore Raymond Pulido manned the left tackle position. Pulido, a true freshman who started on the line in 2023, is young but has shown great potential, though he didn’t play in Arizona’s spring game due to an injury. There will still likely be more shuffling on the Wildcats’ line all the way up to the fall, and their lack of depth in the unit might even involve a transfer portal addition or two. — Uggetti


Replacement: Justin Pickett or Brian Parker II

Though Barton projects as a center in the NFL, he started at left tackle at Duke the past three seasons and leaves big shoes to fill as a two-time All-ACC first-team selection. Duke was stretched thin this spring on the offensive line and had only five healthy linemen for its spring game. This is an area of need in the portal, but Duke has options to replace Graham currently on the roster. Pickett and Parker both played for the Blue Devils last season. — Adelson


Replacement: Joe Moore

Missouri loses a lot up front beyond Robinson, as there are some interior holes to fill, too. Johnny Walker Jr. returns at one starting spot after recording 5 sacks, 9.5 tackles for loss and 9 quarterback hurries, and Moore is set to play opposite him in Robinson’s spot. Moore had a sack and 13 tackles in a reserve role last season and saw extensive field time with the starting defense this spring. The Arizona State transfer had two sacks, a forced fumble and 24 tackles for the Sun Devils in 2022. Missouri also added transfers Darris Smith (Georgia) and Zion Young (Michigan State) to fortify the edge. — Rittenberg


Replacement: Isaiah Bond, Ryan Wingo or Matthew Golden

The Longhorns got speedster Isaiah Bond out of the portal from Alabama with an eye on replacing Worthy after Bond caught 48 passes for 668 yards last season. He might claim the job, but he’ll have to fend off 6-2, 208-pound star freshman Ryan Wingo, who put on a show at the spring game with a 58-yard TD catch and another 3-yard red zone grab, and Houston transfer Matthew Golden, who’s recovering from a foot injury last year but is a dynamic playmaker and kick returner. Sophomore Johntay Cook II, who appeared in all 14 games last year and flashed his big-play potential with a 51-yard catch against Baylor, will also be looking to force his way onto the field somewhere. — Wilson


Replacement: Jake Taylor or Spencer Brown

The search for a replacement for Guyton, who played right tackle to protect left-handed QB Dillon Gabriel’s blind side, will likely include a battle between sophomore Jake Taylor, who has made appearances at both right tackle and right guard in two seasons in Norman, and Michigan State transfer Spencer Brown, who made 23 starts, mostly at right tackle, for the Spartans. Taylor got the start for the spring game, with junior Jacob Sexton, who started the past four games of last year at right tackle, playing left guard. — Wilson


Replacement: Avieon Terrell

Clemson hasn’t exactly earned a reputation as DBU (LSU and Ohio State have that title on lockdown), but Wiggins became the sixth Tigers defensive back drafted in the first two rounds in the past decade. Perhaps the best of the bunch thus far is 2020 first-rounder A.J. Terrell, who has blossomed into a Pro Bowl performer with the Falcons, and whose younger brother, Avieon, could be the next star corner for the Tigers.

Avieon Terrell started five games last season as a true freshman, making 19 tackles and picking off a pass in a win over Georgia Tech. His role will be far bigger this year, as he’ll team with former five-star recruit Jeadyn Lukas to anchor Clemson’s secondary. The Tigers are loaded in the front seven, so the development of Terrell and Lukas might be the key to a playoff push for a defense that finished last season leading the nation in success rate. — Hale


Replacement: Chimere Dike

There’s no question the Gators are going to miss Pearsall’s production. He led the team with 65 receptions and 965 receiving yards with 6 total touchdowns in 2023. The former Arizona State transfer was especially reliable on third downs — 41% of his catches were for first downs last season.

Gators coach Billy Napier grabbed Wisconsin receiver Chimere Dike out of the transfer portal to help. Dike should have good chemistry with quarterback Graham Mertz, another former Badgers starter. Dike led Wisconsin with 47 catches for 689 yards and 6 touchdowns in 2022. Eugene Wilson III (61 catches for 538 with 6 touchdowns) and Kahleil Jackson (22 for 251) are also back. Napier praised young receivers Marcus Burke and Aidan Mizell during the spring. — Schlabach


Replacement: Gage Larvadain

Several players could help fill Legette’s role, including two transfers in Larvadain (Miami of Ohio) and Jared Brown (Coastal Carolina). Larvadain led Miami in 2023 with 42 catches for 679 yards and 6 touchdowns, helping the team to a MAC title. He has 138 receptions for 1,931 yards and 13 touchdowns in three seasons at Miami and FCS Southeastern Louisiana. Brown had 107 receptions for 1,529 yards and 10 touchdowns over the past two seasons at Coastal Carolina. Young wideouts Tyshawn Russell and Mazeo Bennett also flashed this spring. — Rittenberg

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Jets-Blues Game 7 preview: Key players to watch, final score predictions

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Jets-Blues Game 7 preview: Key players to watch, final score predictions

It all comes down to this. The Presidents’ Trophy-winning Winnipeg Jets host the St. Louis Blues in the 200th Game 7 in Stanley Cup playoffs history Sunday (7 p.m. ET, TBS).

One team will advance to the second round, while the other will get an early start to the offseason — and try to fix what went wrong.

For the Blues, this is the club’s 19th all-time Game 7, the most of any non-Original Six team. They have gone 10-8 in Games 7s, with the most recent one being the 2019 Stanley Cup Final against the Boston Bruins, which they won 4-1.

This version of the Jets has much less Game 7 history on which to draw; their only Game 7 was a second-round victory over the Nashville Predators in 2018.

Who wins this one? We’ve gathered the ESPN hockey family to identify the key players to watch in the contest — as well as their final score predictions.

Who is the one key player you’ll be watching in Jets-Blues?

Ryan S. Clark, NHL reporter: If he plays, it’s Mark Scheifele. The hit in Game 5 from Brayden Schenn and/or Radek Faksa generated quite a bit of conversation about what is arguably the most physically demanding series in the first round. Scheifele’s play this season and this series prior to the hit reinforces what makes him a legit top-line center in this league. We saw how the Jets maneuvered around his absence for the final two periods of Game 5, while Game 6 proved why they need contributions from everyone if he can’t go.

But again, that’s if Scheifele plays. He skated Saturday in a tracksuit, with Scott Arniel saying the center will be a game-time decision Sunday.

Arda Öcal, NHL broadcaster: Connor Hellebuyck is the obvious answer here for me because he’s been “Vezina” at home (especially Game 2) and “Vezina from Temu” on the road.

Hellebuyck has allowed four or more goals in seven straight road playoff games, which ties the second longest such streak in Stanley Cup playoff history. But Game 7 is at home. The pressure is on but he’s in comfortable confines, surrounded by a “Whiteout.” Which version of Hellebuyck do we get Sunday night?

Kristen Shilton, NHL reporter: Connor Hellebuyck, of course. Has there been a Jekyll/Hyde performance like this in recent years?

The Vezina finalist can play lights-out at home and like a fish out of water on the road. Does that trend continue in Game 7? What version of the goalie shows up for this one?

But as a bonus, I’ll toss Pavel Buchnevich into this equation. He’s been driving the Blues’ offense, and if Hellebuyck is on his A-game then St. Louis is going to need Buchnevich to channel his hat trick energy from Game 3 to help the Blues pull off a stunning road win.

Greg Wyshynski, NHL reporter: Jordan Binnington renewed his title as one of the NHL’s most clutch goaltenders with his 31-save performance in Team Canada’s 4 Nations Face-Off championship win over the U.S. — including six saves in overtime. He first earned it in 2019, backstopping the Blues to the Stanley Cup with Game 7 wins over Dallas and Boston.

Now he’s got a chance to reestablish those credentials.

Binnington had a 0.82 goals-against average and a .968 save percentage in those prior Game 7s. While Hellebuyck has been terrible in St. Louis, Binnington hasn’t been much better in Winnipeg, generating an .861 save percentage and a 3.44 goals-against average and giving up four goals in two of the three games. But as 4 Nations showed, Binnington can meet the moment. (Although this time, Kyle Connor will actually be in the lineup for the opposition. Not that we’re bitter or anything.)


The final score will be _____.

Clark: 4-3 Jets. There have been a few themes in this series. The first being that offense hasn’t been an issue — the teams have combined to score more than six goals in all but one game. The second is that the home team has won every game; I say that continues, and the Jets advance.

Öcal: 6-5 Jets. Hellebyuck doesn’t have his best game, but the Jets outscore that challenge, and Kyle Connor scores another third-period goal in this series to win it.

Shilton: 5-4 Jets. The Jets have been too good on home ice to let this one slip away. That’s not to say a St. Louis win would be surprising, but even if Hellebuyck is off, Winnipeg’s offense should be able to provide enough buffer that the Jets can squeak through with a narrow victory to advance.

Wyshynski: 5-3 Jets. The Jets would be toast if this game were played in St. Louis because it’s a demonstrable fact that Hellebuyck is a disaster on the road in the playoffs. He’s slightly below replacement at home in the postseason, but Winnipeg will take that considering his three removals on the road.

The Blues are first in the playoffs in 5-on-5 offense and goals-for percentage at home. But Winnipeg is second in both categories. Hellebuyck calms down, and the offense gets ratcheted up at home, especially now that Nikolaj Ehlers has a game under his belt, having not played since April 12 due to a foot injury.

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Rantanen’s ‘fitting’ hat trick caps Stars’ G7 win

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Rantanen's 'fitting' hat trick caps Stars' G7 win

Many of Mikko Rantanen’s greatest moments have come in a Colorado Avalanche sweater. It’s just that the most defining moment of his career came at their expense.

It wasn’t enough that the Dallas Stars were trailing by two goals. It was also the fact that Rantanen scored a hat trick in a string of four unanswered goals that saw his current team, the host Stars, eliminate his old team, the Avalanche, in a 4-2 win Saturday in Game 7 of the Western Conference quarterfinals at the American Airlines Center.

“Obviously, the feeling was incredible to win a series,” Rantanen said in his postgame media availability. “This series was not exactly what I expected. I expected a seven-game series, even before Game 1. The ups and downs in the series. … Belief was there with the group the whole time. Obviously, I was able to make a pay to get the first one and the crowd started to roll.”

The Stars, attempting to reach the conference finals a third straight time, will advance to the semifinal round in which they will await the winner of series featuring the St. Louis Blues and Winnipeg Jets. That encounter will be decided Sunday in Game 7 in Winnipeg.

Soon, the Stars’ collective focus will shift to another Central Division foe. But for now? The attention before, during, and after the game, was on Rantanen.

Part of what made the Avalanche-Stars series arguably the most intriguing first-round series in either conference was the fact it placed two 100-point teams that are in championship window against each other. But, it also came with several subplots with the notable being the team that traded quite a bit to land Rantanen — with the hope he could win them a Stanley Cup now — needed him to defeat the team that he won a championship with back in 2022.

With one assist through the first four games, there was a discussion about if the Stars could manage to win with a sputtering Rantanen on top of the fact they were already without two of their best players in defenseman Miro Heiskanen and forward Jason Robertson.

Rantanen responded with a three-point performance in Game 5, and a four-point performance in Game 6 only to then have a hand in each goal on Saturday. His first goal came on the power-play with 12:12 remaining in the third period when he found enough space to fire a wrist shot that beat MacKenzie Blackwood.

Then came the game-tying goal and the significance it carried. The Stars went on the power play went Avalanche forward Jack Drury was called for holding. Drury part of the trade package the Carolina Hurricanes used to get Rantanen in late January before they would trade him to the Stars.

Drury’s penalty opened the door for Rantanen to score a game-tying goal that might be one of, if not, his signature salvo. Rantanen skated into the Avalanche zone in a 1-on-3 before he split two players before going around the net for a wrap-around goal that went off the skate of Samuel Girard with 6:14 left.

Three minutes later, the Stars received another power-play opportunity that saw Rantanen along with another former Avalanche forward in Matt Duchene work together to find Wyatt Johnston for the game-winning goal.

In the final minute, the Avalanche pulled Blackwood in the attempt to grab a late goal and force over time. Instead? Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger withstood a barrage that officially ended when Stars forward Tyler Seguin got the puck out of the zone only for Rantanen to skate in on an open net for the hat trick with three seconds left.

“I couldn’t care less who scored for them, I really couldn’t,” Avalanche captain and left winger Gabriel Landeskog said when asked about what it was like to watch Rantanen score a hat trick. “Mikko is one of my best friends and I love him, but I couldn’t care if he scored or if somebody else scored.”

For eight full seasons, Rantanen was part of a homegrown movement that saw the Avalanche go from finishing with what was then the worst record in the salary cap era back in 2016-17 to become a perennial favorite to win the Stanley Cup, which did they did in 2023, while also becoming a model for the need to build through the draft.

Building through stars such as Cale Makar, Nathan MacKinnon, Landeskog and Rantanen allowed the Avalanche to become a success. As did the moves they made to get other key figures like Valeri Nichushkin and Devon Toews.

Like all teams in a championship window, the Avs were facing the prospect of possibly making a difficult decision. They had yet to agree to a new contract with Rantanen, who was a pending unrestricted free agent. Then, came the blockbuster trade that few throughout the league saw coming.

The Avalanche traded Rantanen in a three-team trade that saw them get Martin Necas and Drury along with two draft picks. Rantanen’s time with the Carolina Hurricanes was limited to just two goals and six points in 13 games.

Despite the fact the Hurricanes are also among that cadre of championship contenders, Rantanen struggled to find cohesion in Raleigh. Rather than run the risk of watching leave for nothing in free agency, the Hurricanes put out feelers to a few teams with the Stars being one of them.

A long-time admirer of Rantanen, the Stars packaged two first-round picks, three second-round picks and former prized prospect Logan Stankoven to get Rantanen. They then signed him to an eight-year contract worth $12 million annually.

“It’s two things: It’s where our team’s at, and it’s Mikko Rantanen,” Stars general manager Jim Nill told ESPN back in March.

Rantanen finished the regular season with five goals and 18 points in 20 games prior to the showdown with his former team.

Not only did Rantanen’s hat trick condemn his former team to their second first-round exit since winning the Stanley Cup, but it continued a theme of former Avalanche eliminating their previous employers.

The Avalanche and Stars faced each other in last season’s Western Conference semifinal that saw Duchene, a former Colorado first-round pick, score the game-winning goal.

A year later, it was another former Avalanche first-round pick who delivered the devastating blow.

“It seems pretty fitting,” Johnston said about Rantanen. “Obviously, we want to win for each other and I think that goes a little extra when it’s a guy like that who is such a big part of our team and was there for a long time and everyone knows the trade that went on. It’s so awesome. We’re so happy as a group for him.”

As if Rantanen scoring a hat trick in a four-goal comeback wasn’t enough, there’s also the fact that this is now the ninth consecutive Game 7 that Stars coach Peter DeBoer has won his career.

DeBoer’s nine wins in Game 7s broke a tie with Darryl Sutter for the most in NHL history. It was also DeBoer’s third game 7 wins with the Stars.

“I felt something was going to happen,” DeBoer said. “But I could not have predicted that.”

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Canes’ Andersen, 35, secures deal before Round 2

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Canes' Andersen, 35, secures deal before Round 2

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Carolina Hurricanes have signed goaltender Frederik Andersen to a one-year contract for next season, worth $2.75 million for the 35-year-old veteran.

General manager Eric Tulsky announced the deal Saturday, a little over 48 hours before his team starts the second round of the playoffs against the Washington Capitals.

Andersen could earn up to $750,000 in incentives for games played and his participation in a potential run to the Eastern Conference finals next season. He would get $250,000 for playing 35 or more games, another $250,000 for getting to 40 and $250,000 if the Hurricanes reach the East finals and he plays in at least half of the playoff games.

“Frederik has played extremely well for us and ranks in the top 10 all-time for winning percentage by an NHL goalie,” Tulsky said. “We’re excited that he will be staying with the team for next season.”

Andersen and the Hurricanes, the No. 2 seed in the Metropolitan Division, advanced past the New Jersey Devils in Round 1 last week. They will meet the Capitals, who won the division crown, for the right to make the NHL’s final four.

Extending Andersen could give the team a goaltending tandem with Pyotr Kochetkov for less than $6 million combined.

Anderson, a Denmark native who previously played for the Anaheim Ducks and Toronto Maple Leafs, has become coach Rod Brind’Amour’s most trusted option in net. He is expected to return to the starting role for Game 1 of the Capitals series after getting injured in the first round against New Jersey.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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