Mikko Rantanen is heading back to the Western Conference. The Stars paid a big price to acquire the prolific playoff performer from the Hurricanes just before the NHL trade deadline on Friday.

The Stars dealt promising rookie forward Logan Stankoven and two first-round and two third-round picks as part of a blockbuster deal to acquire Rantanen. The Stars also agreed to an eight-year, $96 million contract with the high-scoring Finn after both the Hurricanes and Avalanche failed in their attempts to sign him to a long-term deal.

“Obviously a really good team in Carolina. ... But I think just the fit in Dallas,” Rantanen told TSN. “I’ve played against Dallas a lot. I know they have a good team. I know the city well enough and everything there,. So at the end of the day, it was easy.”

The Stars also locked up three-time 20-goal scorer Wyatt Johnston, who is only 21, to a five-year $42 million contract extension. To make room for Rantanen, the Stars put defenseman Miro Heiskanen — listed as month to month after knee surgery — on long-term injured reserve.

“The chance to acquire and extend one of the best forwards in the NHL is an opportunity that we couldn’t pass up,” Stars general manager Jim Nill said. “He demonstrates exceptional skill and vision on the ice and his size, consistency and versatility make him one of the most complete players in the League.”

Rantanen was one of the top players available and he was on the move again just two months after the Hurricanes acquired him from the Avs in a three-team trade that also included the Blackhawks.

The second-place Stars made the move at the same time the NHL-leading division-rival Jets improved their lineup with a pair of trades. The Jets acquired forward Brandon Tanev by sending a 2027 second-round pick to Seattle. The Jets bolstered their blue line by adding Luke Schenn in a trade with the Penguins, two days after the Penguins acquired the rugged defenseman from the Predators.

The Panthers welcomed the arrival of Bruins captain Brad Marchand in a Friday trade that adds even more grit and experience to the roster of the defending Stanley Cup champions. Marchand, dealt by the Bruins after 16 seasons in Boston, is joining a dogged team with stars Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart and Anton Lundell, and will give the Panthers more depth as they battle for first place in the Atlantic Division.

The Avs weren’t standing pat after acquiring veteran center Brock Nelson in a trade with the Islanders late Thursday. The Avalanche added forward Charlie Coyle in a trade that sent center Casey Mittelstadt to Boston on Friday.

Meantime, the Senators acquired Sabres forward Dylan Cozens to help boost their late-season playoff hopes in a four-player deal involving two Atlantic Division rivals.

In adding Cozens, a 2019 first-round pick, defenseman Dennis Gilbert and a 2026 second-round pick, the Sens dealt center Josh Norris and defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker to the Eastern Conference’s last-place Sabres. Both are former first-round picks.