Mikko Rantanen's trade from the Colorado Avalanche to the Carolina Hurricanes shocked the NHL world on Saturday, but it didn't take him long to fit in with his new team.

Hurricanes superstar Mikko Rantanen opened up about playing with Sebastian Aho for the first time in a long while after his trade.

ELMONT, N.Y. -- Mikko Rantanen and Taylor Hall each made his debut for the Carolina Hurricanes in a 3-2 overtime loss to the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on Saturday.

In an interview, Mikko Rantanen revealed his reaction a day after the Colorado Avalanche traded him to the Carolina Hurricanes. On Friday, the Carolina Hurricanes and the Colorado Avalanche surprised the whole National Hockey League when they agreed on the terms of a trade involving the Finnish superstar Mikko Rantanen.

The Finnish winger, obtained in mega trade with the Colorado Avalanche, earned his first goal as a Hurricane, while fellow newcomer Taylor Hall was a late scratch with an illness.

Mikko Rantanen scored his first goal with Carolina, helping the Hurricanes beat the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 on Thursday night. Seth Jarvis and Jaccob Slavin also scored for the Hurricanes, who won for the sixth time in seven games.

In his first home game since being traded to the Carolina Hurricanes on Jan. 24, Rantanen recorded his first goal as a member of the squad. The early second-period tally put the Hurricanes on top of the visiting Chicago Blackhawks 2-1 after teammate Jack Roslovic provided a sick between-the-legs assist as he entered the offensive zone.

There was one thing Mikko Rantanen needed after he was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes: his number. Jack Roslovic had the No. 96 for Carolina before Rantanen was acquired in a blockbuster three-team trade last week that also involved the Chicago Blackhawks.

Mikko Rantanen scored in his Hurricanes home debut as Carolina posted a 3-2 victory against the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night in Raleigh, N.C.

Mikko Rantanen (Carolina Hurricanes) with a Goal vs. Chicago Blackhawks, 01/30/2025