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Carolina Hurricanes Acquire Mikko Rantanen and Taylor Hall
David Gonzales-Imagn Images

Who says there is a Friday night news dump? The Carolina Hurricanes made serious headlines on Friday night as they Mikko Rantanen from the Colorado Avalanche and Taylor Hall from the Chicago Blackhawks.

A couple of weeks ago, there was a report that if the Avalanche could not sign Rantanen to an extension, they would look to move him, as Full Press Hockey documented.

However, the only way Rantanen was getting traded from Colorado was for another superstar player. As mentioned, say the Avalanche wanted to trade Rantanen to the Vancouver Canucks they would need Elias Pettersson in return.

Colorado Sends Mikko Rantanen to Carolina For Martin Necas and Other Pieces

Well, the Avalanche got that with the acquisition of Martin Necas and Jack Drury from Carolina. Meanwhile, the Chicago Blackhawks will get a third-round pick to retain 50 percent of Rantanen’s salary, which is about $4.6 million. Colorado also gets as part of the deal a 2025 2nd Round Pick and a 2026 4th Round Pick.

The Colorado Avalanche were at an impasse with Mikko Rantanen. Rantanen was looking for $14 million on a new contract extension. That is more than what Nathan MacKinnon makes at $12.6 million. Rantanen was an unrestricted free agent and was eligible to sign an extension on July 1st.

However, once Leon Draisatil signed his deal with the Edmonton Oilers and the market was set at $14 million, you knew Rantanen wanted that number and more. In 619 regular season games, Rantane had 691 points (287 goals and 394 assists). Rantanen just recorded back-to-back 100-point seasons. So it was going to take a lot to replace his production.


Vancouver Canucks: NHL Rumors: J.T. Miller Trade Talks Heating Up

Toronto Maple Leafs: Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving Confirms He is Looking for a Center

New Jersey Devils: J.T. Miller Does Not Fit What the New Jersey Devils Are Building

But they are good a good player in return in Martin Necas, who has this year and next at $6.5 million. He is eligible to sign an extension on July 1, 2025, and it will be easier to get him under the $12.6 million if Avalanche decides to extend him.

Necas has recorded 55 points (16 goals and 39 assists) in 49 games this season, with Carolina playing in a top-six role. Those numbers could increase playing alongside MacKinnon.

Carolina Taking a Risk But Were Active

This is the second year in a row that the Hurricanes have acquired an unrestricted free agent. Jake Guentzel was acquired before the deadline last year from the Pittsburgh Penguins. Now, the Hurricanes are getting Rantanen without an extension involved. It may be easier for him to sign an extension with a $13-$14 million AAV with Carolina.

We know the Carolina Hurricanes were active in the trade market. Carolina was in discussion with the Vancouver Canucks about J.T. Miller as RG Media reported, but was also talking to Colorado about Rantanen.

Remember when Carolina and Vancouver talked about Necas for Pettersson last year? Colorado added Drury and Necas to replace the production of Rantanen, whom they just could not sign. So, the irons were hot enough to make a deal, and the Avalanche took the best one available and did not wait.

This is a huge blockbuster trade, and now the Colorado Avalanche may not be done, as they have cap space to add. We know they need a center, and Sidney Crosby, a player from Nova Scotia who plays for Pittsburgh, could head to Colorado to play with MacKinnon. Again, that will probably not happen as Crosby owns a no-movement clause and is untouchable, but Colorado will look for a center. 

Colorado is not done adding, so we will wait and see. But the Avalaby movingwaves moving out Mikko Rantanen when most thought he would stay except a handful.

This article first appeared on Full Press Hockey and was syndicated with permission.

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