Mikko Rantanen’s military service delay sparks legal case in Finland amid career-high season

Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen is in the middle of a complicated situation off the ice. In Finland, all men are required to complete mandatory military service, and prosecutors allege Rantanen failed to report on time last April.

They argue his application to delay his service was filed too late, leaving him subject to a potential fine equivalent to 10–15 days of income.

Mikko Rantanen faces legal battle over Finnish military service delay

Mikko Rantanen’s agent, Matti Huhtamaki, has pushed back strongly, stressing that his client did nothing wrong and that “there have been mistakes that Mikko has tried to correct as soon as he received the information.” Huhtamaki added that the matter “should be left to the court” and refused further comment until proceedings conclude.

The 28-year-old briefly served at the Guard Jaeger Regiment’s sports school earlier this year before being released for health reasons. While the legal uncertainty lingers, the case highlights the challenges international athletes sometimes face when balancing professional careers abroad with domestic legal and civic obligations.

Mikko Rantanen delivers for Dallas after blockbuster trade and mega-contract

Despite the off-ice drama, Rantanen’s hockey career is thriving. After a trade that sent him from the Colorado Avalanche to the Carolina Hurricanes before landing in Dallas, he wasted no time committing to his new team, signing an eight-year, $96 million deal.

“It was the first time I’ve been traded from Colorado and it happened quick,” Rantanen told NHL.com, explaining that he felt Dallas was the right fit after discussions with his camp and his girlfriend, Susanna.Also Read: Hockey’s own Kelce brothers? Brady and Matthew Tkachuk spark fan debate with growing media presenceOn the ice, his production remained elite—32 goals and 88 points in the regular season, followed by 22 points in 18 playoff games. His hat trick against Winnipeg and four-point night versus Colorado proved his ability to deliver under pressure. For the Stars, Rantanen’s consistency is exactly what they paid for, even as the Finnish court system decides his military service case.