Former Colorado Avalanche player and current Calgary Flames forward Nazem Kadri took a shot at his former team on Sunday, and the Dallas Stars didn’t let it go unanswered.
Following Mikko Rantanen’s three-point Game 3 performance against the Winnipeg Jets, Kadri took to X to remind the Avs of their wrongs.
“Rule number one: You always keep the dawgs … #96.”
Less than 30 minutes later, with the win already secured, the official Stars account replied with a single emoji, a dog, in reference to Kadri’s “dawgs” wording.
It was a subtle but pointed response, especially considering Rantanen’s journey during the past few months.
🐶
— X – Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) May 11, 2025
The Avalanche first dealt Rantanen, a 2022 Stanley Cup champion while sharing the ice with Kadri, in January to the Carolina Hurricanes before he forced a trade-deadline move to the Stars.
Immediately following his trade to Dallas, the Stars signed him to an eight-year, $96 million contract extension—a deal Colorado reportedly refused to match.
According to Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos, Rantanen told his agents, “I want to jam it down Colorado’s throat,” when deciding to sign with the Dallas stars so he could meet the Avalanche in the Western Conference playoffs.
“I want to go in for the next eight years,” Rantanen said, per Kypreos. “I’m coming after them.”
The Avalanche, who let Kadri walk in free agency in 2022 and now have parted ways with Rantanen, were eliminated by Dallas in the first round.
Since then, Rantanen has kept on dominating the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. His one-goal, two-assist effort on Sunday helped Dallas beat Winnipeg 5-2 and take a 2-1 lead in the series.
Rantanen now leads the playoff field with nine goals and nine assists for 18 total points in 10 games.
Dallas leads the second-round series entering Game 4, scheduled for Tuesday with puck drop at 8:00 p.m. ET.
Related: Nick Kypreos Reveals Mikko Rantanen’s Bold Statement After Avalanche Trade
Related: NHL Recognizes Historic Performance by Stars’ Mikko Rantanen