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NHL general managers indicated that the Carolina Hurricanes' trade for Mikko Rantanen won't change their deadline approach.
New Hurricanes star winger Mikko Rantanen was reportedly blindsided by his trade from the Avalanche on Friday.
Rantanen is one of the NHL’s top playoff performers; he ranks fourth among active players in career playoff points per game (1.25) behind Edmonton Oilers forwards Connor McDavid (1.58), Leon Draisaitl (1.46) and his now former teammate MacKinnon (1.30) and helped Colorado win the Stanley Cup in 2022.
Welcome to NHL trade deadline season. The blockbuster trade of Mikko Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes surprised the hockey world Friday evening and has big takeaways.
Did the Avalanche get a sufficient trade return for Mikko Rantanen? Will Rantanen adjust to the Hurricanes' style? Is acquiring a star rental player worth it? All that and much more.
The trades are coming in hot and Cup contenders are filling needs. What are the biggest needs for each contender?
Asked about the state of extension talks with not only Marner but John Tavares and pending RFA Matthew Knies earlier this month, Leafs GM Brad Treliving said, “Those are things that we always are looking at and talking about and rumbling around, but nothing to report right now.”
For one, you have the money part of it all. Collectively, Necas and Drury are making $8.225 million against the salary cap this season, which is less collectively than Rantanen’s $9.25 million cap hit on his own. With his deal expiring in the offseason and the other two being under contract for 2025-26, there’s a “run it back” aspect in play.
The Hurricanes made a statement move well in advance of the NHL trade deadline. Carolina GM Eric Tulsky explained the team’s move.
Whenever a franchise icon is traded, there is always a doubt about whether the new players can adequately replace their production. That is the predicament
Rantanen was acquired in a trade with the Colorado Avalanche on Friday for forwards Jack Drury and Martin Necas, along with a second-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft and a fourth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. Hall was acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks for a third-round pick in the 2025 Draft.