Carolina can re-sign Rantanen and maintain a formidable supporting cast around him, which might have been tough for Colorado.

The Colorado Avalanche has traded Mikko Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes, according to multiple reports. Rantanen is in the final year of his contract and can be an unrestricted free agent in July. He leads the Avs with 25 goals and has 64 points, which was sixth in the NHL entering Friday night’s games.

The Carolina Hurricanes pulled off the first major blockbuster of the 2024-25 NHL trade deadline when they acquired forwards Mikko Rantanen and Taylor Hall on Friday night as part of a massive three-team trade with the Colorado Avalanche and Chicago Blackhawks. The Hurricanes are getting Rantanen from the Avalanche and Hall from the Blackhawks.