Stars’ Mikko Rantanen fined $2,000 for embellishment
The NHL has announced that Dallas Stars winger Mikko Rantanen has been fined $2,000 for embellishment.
Mikko Rantanen of the @DallasStars fined for embellishment. https://t.co/soInzXlJFr pic.twitter.com/Vi3fHG6tUS
— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) November 21, 2025The play in which Rantanen was fined for occurred early in the third period of the Stars’ 3-2 overtime win over the Ottawa Senators on November 11th. The play in question saw Rantanen skate across the crease, where Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark had his right arm held out while not facing the Stars winger. Rantanen proceeded to skate into Ullmark and fall onto the ice, bringing the netminder down with him. No penalty was given to either player for the incident.
Per Rule 64 in the NHL’s collective bargaining agreement, fines are handed out on a gradual scale based on the number of offenses the player commits. A player will get a warning on their first citation, proceeded by fines of $2,000, $3,000 and $4,000, and then every proceeding fine will be given $5,000. The player’s respective head coach will also begin receiving fines on the fifth citation onwards.
Rantanen had received his warning citation for a play during the Stars’ 5-3 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on October 16th. The NHL did not specify which play in that game was flagged for embellishment, and Rantanen did not receive any embellishment penalties in the game.
Rantanen appears to be adjusted to his new home with the Stars, as in his first full season with Dallas, he has 10 goals and 18 assists for 28 points in 21 games.
Rantanen is in the first year of an eight-year contract with a $12 million cap hit. Rantanen’s fine accounted for only 0.000167% (or 1/6,000) of his cap hit, and 0.000133% (or 1/7,500) of his salary for the 2025-26 season.
The Stars will look to build on a stretch of six wins in seven games when they visit the Calgary Flames on Saturday at 9 p.m. CST. Dallas currently sits in second in the Central Division with a 13-5-3 record, four points behind the Colorado Avalanche for first place.