Mikko Rantanen’s unstoppable 2025 playoffs: The EDGE stats driving his historic run

Mikko Rantanen has been on fire in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. After being traded twice this season—first from Colorado to Carolina, and then from Carolina to Dallas—he’s found a home in Texas and, in the process, has turned into the postseason’s most dangerous player. From back-to-back hat tricks to a series of standout performances, Rantanen is not only leading the Stars’ charge but also putting up numbers that make it hard to argue he isn’t the Conn Smythe frontrunner.And while everyone’s talking about his goals, there’s a hidden story in the data that shows just how well-rounded his playoff performance truly is.It’s no surprise Mikko Rantanen has been scoring at will—he’s a natural goal-scorer. But looking deep into the numbers, his success isn’t just about putting the puck in the net; it’s about where and how he’s getting his shots. Take his shot locations, for example. He’s been everywhere, from the front of the net to midrange areas, and it’s been paying off. Excluding his incredible wraparound goal against Colorado, he’s been in the 93rd percentile for high-danger shots on goal, which means he’s consistently putting himself in positions where scoring is most likely. Even more impressive is the fact that he’s scored three high-danger goals so far—putting him in the 95th percentile. But Rantanen hasn’t just been getting close to the net; his midrange game has been nearly as deadly. With four mid range goals, tied with Nathan MacKinnon for the league lead, he’s found a way to beat goalies from nearly every angle.It’s not just about shot selection, though. The other piece of the puzzle is his work ethic and skating. Rantanen has been putting in serious mileage this postseason, skating a total of 23.88 miles, which places him in the 92nd percentile among forwards. And this isn’t just cruising around—the guy is involved in every shift. His 20.53 miles at even strength ranks him in the 95th percentile, and he’s also been effective on the power play, with 3.35 miles skated during man-advantage situations (88th percentile). That work ethic is paying off with goals, too. He leads the NHL in even-strength goals with six, and he’s added two power-play goals to round out his impact.But there’s another layer to Rantanen’s dominance: his shot quality. His Projected Goal Rate (PGR)—a stat that measures how likely his shots are to result in a goal based on the quality of the attempt—sits at 8.30 percent this postseason. That’s third in the NHL, behind only Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman. For context, anything above 12 percent is considered a high-probability shot, so Rantanen’s number speaks to the fact that not only is he taking a lot of shots, but he’s taking a lot of good ones.Mikko Rantanen’s postseason performance isn’t just about scoring a bunch of goals and grabbing headlines—though he’s certainly doing that, too. When you look at the numbers, it’s clear his playoff run has been built on much more than just good luck. His ability to get to the right places on the ice, combined with his relentless skating and high-quality shot attempts, makes him the total package. It’s no wonder he’s considered the favorite for the Conn Smythe. If he keeps this up, there might be no stopping him—or the Dallas Stars.Also Read: Breaking down the 2025 NHL MVP finalists: Hart and Ted Lindsay award predictions