Hurricanes land Rantanen and Hall in major three-team trade

On Friday night, the Carolina Hurricanes made headlines by acquiring star right winger Mikko Rantanen from the Colorado Avalanche. This blockbuster move is part of a three-team trade also involving the Chicago Blackhawks. Along with Rantanen, the Hurricanes secured left winger Taylor Hall, while the Avalanche received centers Martin Necas and Jack Drury. The Blackhawks gained a third-round pick and agreed to cover 50% of Rantanen’s $9.25 million salary cap hit.

In addition to this exchange, Colorado acquired Carolina’s second-round pick in 2025 and a fourth-round pick in 2026.

No Contract Extension for Rantanen Yet

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that Mikko Rantanen has not signed a contract extension as part of this trade. However, Friedman noted that the Hurricanes are interested in exploring a long-term deal. “This isn’t merely about acquiring him as a rental; it’s about assessing whether they can secure him long-term,” he stated during his appearance on Sportsnet Tonight.

Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet highlighted Rantanen’s contract situation earlier in the season. Reports suggested that Rantanen rejected an eight-year, $90 million extension from the Avalanche. “There was never any real progress between Rantanen and Colorado,” Kypreos said, noting that Colorado was unwilling to match Nathan MacKinnon’s $12.6 million AAV. The Avalanche believe Martin Necas, with a lower expected salary demand, could deliver strong performance without stretching their salary cap.

Hurricanes’ Determination to Sign Elite Talent

Last season, the Hurricanes traded for Jake Guentzel as a scoring winger, but he left in free agency to join the Tampa Bay Lightning. Hurricanes’ ownership appears determined to avoid a repeat, pushing to finalize a deal with Rantanen.Hurricanes acquire Rantanen latest news and updates nlc

Hurricanes General Manager Eric Tulsky lauded Rantanen, calling him “one of the top power forwards in our game.” Tulsky added, “It’s well known that we’ve been looking to enhance our roster with elite talent, and he is a player who should integrate seamlessly into our system and culture. Additionally, Taylor provides us with another skilled option to strengthen our offensive capabilities.”

Rantanen’s Exceptional Record

Mikko Rantanen ranks sixth in the NHL with 64 points and seventh in goals scored this season. If he maintains this level of performance with the Hurricanes, he could become the first Carolina player to finish an 82-game season in the top 10 for scoring since Eric Staal in 2005-06.

Over the past five seasons, Rantanen has tallied 431 points, placing him fourth in the league, trailing only Nathan MacKinnon (479), Leon Draisaitl (502), and Connor McDavid (578).

Taylor Hall Joins Carolina

The Hurricanes also welcomed Taylor Hall, a former Hart Trophy winner and the NHL MVP in 2017-18. Hall, now 33, spent much of last season recovering from knee surgery. Despite this, he has contributed nine goals and 15 assists in 46 games this year. Hall’s $6 million salary makes him a valuable yet affordable addition for Carolina.

Chicago Blackhawks coach Anders Sorensen expressed optimism about Hall’s new opportunity, stating, “For him, it opens up new opportunities. He’s a seasoned professional who’s been in the league for a long time and brings valuable offensive insights.”

Hurricanes’ Playoff Aspirations

Carolina currently holds a 30-16-3 record, sitting second in the Metropolitan Division with 63 points. The Hurricanes have qualified for the playoffs six straight seasons, including two Eastern Conference Final appearances. However, they are still chasing their first Stanley Cup Final under head coach Rod Brind’Amour.

Departures: Martin Necas and Jack Drury

Martin Necas, 26, leads the Hurricanes this season with 55 points (16 goals and 39 assists) and ranks fifth in the NHL with 22 power-play points. Selected in the first round of the 2017 draft, Necas has played all 411 of his career games with Carolina, accumulating 298 points.

Jack Drury, 24, has recorded nine points (three goals and six assists) in 39 games this season. The New York native and nephew of former NHL player Chris Drury was drafted in the second round of 2018 by Carolina.

Future Prospects

As part of the deal, Carolina acquired forward prospect Nils Juntorp, coinciding with the NHL’s upcoming 4 Nations tournament break. With the trade deadline approaching on March 7, this move highlights the Hurricanes’ commitment to strengthening their roster for the playoffs.

Broader Trade Market Developments

Trade activity is heating up league-wide, with competitive races unfolding in both conferences. Notably, the Hurricanes have engaged in discussions with Vancouver regarding potential trades involving J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson. However, Necas was only mentioned in talks related to Pettersson, not Miller.

This trade underlines Carolina’s determination to secure elite talent and make a serious push for the Stanley Cup this season.

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