Mikko Rantanen Caught in Off-Ice Situation Making Headlines: New Maple Leaf Could Face the Same Fate
Photo credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
Mikko Rantanen is reportedly facing a major fine, a scenario that Maple Leafs forward Matias Maccelli may one day encounter himself.
According to a report from Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat, Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen has attempted to delay his mandatory military service, and a prosecutor has believed Rantanen to have committed an unauthorized absence after not showing up for an assigned posting.
Rantanen was ordered to arrive for training, but did not show and opted to file for a postponement to his service, which was done after his deadline but was approved.
The prosecutor seeks a fine for Rantanen that could total up to 85K euros, nearly $100K USD, for what is viewed by the prosecutor in the case as Rantanen not having properly done oversight on his military application.
Rantanen, currently with the Dallas Stars, was rumored to potentially be a target of the Toronto Maple Leafs at the NHL trade deadline.
Rantanen's Off-Ice News Could Impact His Reputation in Finland
Military service is mandatory in Finland for men, and exemptions are largely rare, with many refusals to enlist resulting in either fines or prison time, although the practice has come into scrutiny among anti-conscription advocates in recent years.
Rantanen, who has consistently represented his native Finland internationally, risks bringing controversy to himself back home with his attempts to delay his service.
In June, Rantanen was one of six players named to Finland's Olympic Hockey team as one of the key players for the Finns. It's unclear if his legal situation would have any impact on his status.
A 2019 poll shows that 65% of Finns support the current conscription system, with Finnish support for military service still high.
Finland has strengthened their borders with Russia amid the ongoing Russian war against Ukraine, with Russian soldiers having done military training alongside the Finnish border in the past.
Finnish president Alexander Stubb has emphasized the importance of military service as a way of protecting the country's sovereignty, with the president having become an increasingly major player in peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in recent months.
Why It Matters: Maple Leafs Have Finnish Talent in Matias Maccelli
The Toronto Maple Leafs will have to face the potential of Finnish forward Matias Maccelli doing military service.
There's no available record of the 24-year-old having done his service, currently in the typical age range to enlist.
Unlike Rantanen, who had signed a massive eight-year, $96M extension this past season, Maccelli has less financially to handle a large fine having a current contract of $3.425M, although it's Rantanen's massive extension that is part of the hefty fine.
With all Finns order to complete their mandatory military service, Maccelli has only a few more years to enlist and handle the situation or face a legal challenge that may emerge as is currently the case with Rantanen right now.
