Mikko Rantanen automatic one-game suspension for two game misconduct penalties: What it means for the Dallas Stars

Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen will sit out Tuesday night’s matchup against the Edmonton Oilers after becoming the latest NHL player to fall victim to one of hockey’s lesser-known automatic suspension rules. The 29-year-old winger received a mandatory one-game ban under Rule 23.6 after accumulating two game misconduct penalties for boarding within a span of just three games. The suspension comes at a crucial time for the Stars, who currently sit near the top of the Central Division and face a Western Conference rival in a rematch of last year’s conference final.

The league’s Department of Player Safety elected not to hold a hearing for Rantanen’s second boarding incident, instead allowing the automatic penalty to take effect. This decision highlights a unique aspect of NHL discipline that often flies under the radar—while supplemental discipline grabs headlines, the rulebook itself contains built-in consequences for repeat offenders in specific categories.

Understanding NHL Rule 23.6 and the automatic suspension policy

The foundation of Rantanen’s suspension rests in a section of the NHL rulebook that many fans—and even some players—may not know exists. Rule 23.6 states that any player who incurs two game misconduct penalties in the “Physical Infractions Category” before playing 41 consecutive regular-season games without such a penalty shall be suspended automatically for the next league game. For each subsequent game misconduct, the suspension increases by an additional game.

This automatic suspension mechanism operates independently of the Department of Player Safety’s review process. In Rantanen’s case, despite the league choosing not to impose additional supplemental discipline for either boarding incident, the rulebook mandated the one-game ban regardless. The system essentially creates a two-track discipline structure: one for particularly egregious plays that warrant additional review, and another for tracking patterns of dangerous behavior over time.

The physical infractions category explained

The NHL categorizes penalties to help track repeat offenses more effectively. The physical infractions category includes major penalties for boarding, charging, checking from behind, clipping, elbowing, interference, and kneeing. All of these infractions share a common thread—they involve dangerous physical contact that can injure opponents.

When a player receives a major penalty and automatic game misconduct for any of these offenses, it gets logged in their record. The league maintains these records throughout the season, and they don’t reset until a player completes 41 consecutive games without adding another infraction to their tally. This approach recognizes that occasional physical plays that cross the line may happen in a contact sport, but patterns of such behavior need addressing before they escalate.

How the 41-game rule works

The 41-game provision within Rule 23.6 serves as both a carrot and a stick. Once a player accumulates two physical infraction game misconducts, they’re automatically suspended. However, if they manage to play 41 straight games without another such penalty, their record is wiped clean. Previous infractions remain in their historical record but no longer count toward future automatic suspensions.

This creates a clear path for players to demonstrate they’ve adjusted their play. For Rantanen, who now has two strikes against him, he’ll need to play more than half the season without another boarding major to reset his counter. If he receives a third physical infraction game misconduct before reaching that 41-game threshold, he’ll face an automatic two-game suspension instead of just one. The escalation continues from there, making each subsequent offense increasingly costly.

The incidents that triggered Rantanen’s suspension

Rantanen’s path to suspension developed rapidly, with both incidents occurring in a brutal three-game stretch that saw him accumulate 39 of his league-leading 57 penalty minutes. The swiftness of the sequence caught many by surprise, especially given Rantanen’s previously clean disciplinary record spanning 674 career games across three franchises.

First boarding call against Alexander Romanov

The first domino fell on November 19 during a 3-2 loss to the New York Islanders. Late in the game, Rantanen drilled defenseman Alexander Romanov from behind, earning a five-minute major for boarding and an automatic game misconduct. Islanders head coach Patrick Roy, who coached Rantanen in Colorado, didn’t mince words about the hit.

“I’m going to say is [that] when you see the number, you have to lay off. Everybody knows that. You don’t go through the guy,” Roy said after the game. “I was in Colorado when [Rantanen] was drafted there. It’s not his style. But at the same time, that should not be part of our game.”

The consequences proved severe. Romanov required shoulder surgery and will miss five to six months, a significant loss for the Islanders’ blue line. Despite the injury, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety ultimately decided the play, while dangerous, didn’t warrant supplemental discipline beyond the in-game penalties.

Second boarding penalty against Matt Coronato

Just four days later, on November 22, Rantanen found himself in similar territory. During a 3-2 shootout loss to the Calgary Flames, he boarded forward Matt Coronato from behind late in the second period. Coronato left the ice for evaluation but fortunately returned to finish the game. Calgary coach Ryan Huska called it “a terrible hit.”

Officials immediately assessed another major penalty and game misconduct, triggering Rule 23.6. The Department of Player Safety again opted not to hold a hearing, and sources indicated no further discipline would be coming beyond the automatic suspension. The quick succession of similar penalties—both boarding calls, both resulting in game misconducts—made the automatic suspension unavoidable.

Impact on the Dallas Stars lineup

Rantanen’s absence creates a significant hole for a Stars team that relies heavily on his offensive production and power-play presence. He shares the team lead with Jason Robertson at 28 points in 22 games (10 goals, 18 assists), making him a central part of Dallas’ attack.

Rantanen’s penalty minute explosion this season

The suspension places a harsh spotlight on Rantanen’s dramatic increase in penalty minutes this season. His 57 penalty minutes currently lead the entire NHL, with nearly 70 percent coming in that three-game sequence. For context, Rantanen accumulated just 36 penalty minutes in 82 games during the 2023-24 season with Colorado and Carolina.

Between the two boarding majors, Rantanen also received a $2,000 fine for diving/embellishment, marking his second offense of that nature this season. The combination of discipline issues suggests a player struggling to adapt his game, whether due to frustration, heightened physical play, or simply a run of poor decision-making.

What his absence means for Tuesday’s game

Missing the Oilers game stings for competitive reasons beyond just the standings. Edmonton eliminated Dallas in last year’s Western Conference final, a series the Stars entered with high expectations. The Oilers feature Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, requiring defensive responsibility and discipline—areas where Rantanen will now be unable to contribute.

The Stars must adjust their forward lines and power-play units without their top producer. Coach Pete DeBoer may need to rely more heavily on Robertson, Roope Hintz, and newcomer Matt Duchene to generate offense. Additionally, with Rantanen unavailable, the team must avoid the temptation to retaliate or play overly physical, especially given how the automatic suspension rule escalates for repeat offenders.

Historical context and player safety considerations

Rantanen’s situation offers a fascinating case study in how the NHL balances punishment, deterrence, and rehabilitation. The automatic suspension rule essentially presumes guilt for pattern behavior while still allowing room for the Department of Player Safety to assess supplemental discipline based on the severity of individual incidents.

Rantanen’s clean disciplinary record prior to this week

Perhaps the most surprising element of this suspension involves Rantanen’s history—or lack thereof. Over 11 seasons and 674 games with the Colorado Avalanche, Carolina Hurricanes, and Dallas Stars, he had never previously faced supplemental discipline. His lone prior interaction with the Department of Player Safety was the recent embellishment fine.

This clean slate likely worked in his favor when the league evaluated both boarding incidents. The Department of Player Safety often considers intent, history, and injury when deciding on additional punishment. Rantanen’s reputation as a skill player rather than an agitator may explain why neither hit resulted in a separate suspension, despite one causing a significant injury.

The league’s approach to repeat offenses

The NHL’s two-track discipline system acknowledges that not all dangerous plays deserve the same response. Some warrant immediate and severe supplemental discipline. Others represent patterns of borderline behavior that need correction before someone gets seriously hurt. By automating the response to repeat physical infractions, the league removes subjectivity from pattern enforcement.

However, the rule isn’t perfect. Critics might argue that a player could commit two relatively minor boarding offenses and face the same automatic penalty as someone whose actions were more dangerous. Others contend that any pattern of physical infractions deserves punishment regardless of severity, since each represents an unnecessary risk to player safety.

The system does offer players a clear path to redemption through the 41-game reset provision. This encourages long-term behavior modification rather than permanent labeling. Rantanen now understands exactly where he stands and what he must do to avoid harsher penalties.

Mikko Rantanen’s automatic one game suspension for two game misconduct penalties serves as a wake-up call—not just for the player, but for fans who may be unfamiliar with this automatic discipline mechanism. The rule’s existence highlights the NHL’s effort to address dangerous play patterns before they escalate, operating in the background while high-profile supplemental discipline cases grab headlines. For the Stars, they’ll need to survive one game without their top producer, but the larger concern involves ensuring Rantanen can adapt his play to avoid making this suspension the first of multiple automatic bans. His path to resetting that 41-game counter starts Wednesday in Vancouver, assuming he can avoid further physical infractions and help his team continue their strong start to the season.