NHL Rumors: Mikko Rantanen ‘Blindsided’ by Trade to Hurricanes

NHL Rumors: Mikko Rantanen ‘Blindsided’ by Trade to Hurricanes

Mikko Rantanen was reportedly caught off guard by his trade to the Carolina Hurricanes. The blockbuster deal, which took place late Friday night, saw Rantanen and Taylor Hall traded in a three-team exchange between the Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche, and Chicago Blackhawks. This trade stands as one of the most significant midseason moves in recent NHL history, ranking among the largest trades since the Florida Panthers acquired Matthew Tkachuk in 2022.

As the hockey world continues to digest the news, more details are emerging. According to The Athletic's Chris Johnston, Rantanen had not been engaged in advanced discussions about a potential contract extension prior to the trade and did not anticipate being moved by the Avalanche at this time.

“There were no advanced discussions with Rantanen’s camp about the parameters of a potential extension before the trade was completed. The 28-year-old winger was completely blindsided by the move from the only NHL team he’s ever played for,” Johnston reported.

Hurricanes-Avalanche Had Been Talking Trade for Months

While Rantanen was surprised by the trade, some reports suggest this deal had been in the works for some time. The Avalanche and Hurricanes had been discussing a potential trade for Rantanen for nearly a year. Back at the NHL Draft in June, it was Colorado that initially floated the idea of moving Rantanen, though talks didn't progress at that time. The Hurricanes had their own contract standoff to resolve, signing Martin Necas (who was traded to Colorado in this deal) before the 2024-25 season began.

Johnston notes that the two teams resumed serious negotiations two months ago. At one point, Carolina had to decide between trading for Rantanen or pursuing a deal for either J.T. Miller or Elias Pettersson. This aligns with earlier reports suggesting the Hurricanes were close to making a deal with the Canucks before ultimately finalizing the Rantanen trade.

A Game-Changing Trade for the Hurricanes

For the Hurricanes, acquiring Rantanen is a major win. The Finnish winger is one of the top goal-scorers in the NHL, with only four players having netted more goals than him since 2020, according to Evolving Hockey.

On the other hand, the Avalanche find themselves in an interesting position. While they remain in playoff contention, sitting five points ahead of the Calgary Flames for the top Wild Card spot in the West, trading Rantanen provides them with cap space, potentially setting the stage for another significant move.

This trade has already made a huge impact, and it will be fascinating to see how it influences the Hurricanes and Avalanche moving forward. Fans will be closely monitoring what additional moves might come in the wake of this blockbuster deal.

Tristin McKinstry is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints and a leading expert on NHL coverage. With experience writing for various sports blogs since 2014, he is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Communications at Southern New Hampshire University.

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