After weeks of speculation, the Carolina Hurricanes have completed one of the NHL’s biggest trades of recent. Trade rumors have surrounded the Hurricanes for quite some time, particularly on whether or not the organization would trade for Vancouver Canucks forward J.T. Miller. Instead, the organization stunned in a three-team trade with the Colorado Avalanche and Chicago Blackhawks.
Mikko Rantanen Becomes a Carolina Hurricane
The Avalanche gained Martin Nečas and Jack Drury from Carolina. The organization also received a 2025 second-round NHL Draft pick and a 2026 fourth-round pick. Nečas was drafted by the organization at 12th overall in 2017, and has remained a central part of the Hurricanes offense. This season, fresh off a Worlds gold medal with Czechia, Nečas’s name has been an early contender for the Hart. The center has 16 goals and 39 assists for the year. In his final game as a Carolina Hurricane, he was credited with two assists, placing him at 55 points — surpassing his total points from the 2023-2024 season. Since his draft, Carolina fans commonly used the term “can’t spell Canes without Nečas” in reference to what the center brought to the franchise.
Rantanen was drafted 10th overall by Colorado in 2015. He currently has 25 goals and 39 assists, placing him at 64 points for the year. He leads the Avalanche in goals for the season. In the 2023-2024 season, his point total was 104 — eighth in the NHL. Since his early years, Rantanen has been a star in Colorado. Prior to the trade, he was on the team’s first line with Nathan MacKinnon and Jonathan Drouin. The line was referred to as “the Moose line” by Colorado fans, referencing Rantanen’s nickname and the junior hockey team of MacKinnon and Drouin. Rantanen was expected to be re-signed to a major contract this season as Colorado’s most pressing anticipated UFA. His UFA rights still apply during this offseason.
He was also the team’s alternate captain.
Taylor Hall
The Hurricanes also gained Chicago Blackhawks left winger Taylor Hall. Hall was the first overall pick of the 2010 NHL Draft. In exchange for Hall, the Blackhawks now have a 2025 NHL Draft third-round pick from Carolina.
Now eyes shift to ‘what’s next’ for the Hurricanes, as there is plenty of time before the NHL Trade Deadline, Caroline has time to make a few more tweaks.
ITR 31: Let Them Fight – Inside The Rink
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