The Carolina Hurricanes will return to the ice tomorrow against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON at 7:00 PM EST. Today on 32 Thoughts, Elliotte Friedman mentioned that forward Mikko Rantanen could be a name to watch as the trade deadline approaches. Rantanen is a rental as he will be a free agent following this season. The Hurricanes acquired him from the Colorado Avalanche on January 24th in a blockbuster deal that surprised many people. Carolina also acquired Taylor Hall, Nils Juntorp, Rantanen for Jack Drury, and Martin Necas who went to the Avalanche. The Hurricanes also sent the second-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft and the fourth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft to the Avalanche. They also sent the third-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft to the Chicago Blackhawks.
One thing Friedman mentioned is that Carolina could retain salary in the trade, which would make his cap hit $2.3 million. Rantanen since being acquired by Carolina in six games has two points on a goal and an assist, he’s a plus-one in 19:41 TOI. He just hasn’t found his game in Carolina, which has now made him available.
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Mikko Rantanen
Rantanen spent his first ten seasons in Colorado which drafted him tenth overall in the 2015 NHL Draft. In 619 games he’s recorded 681 points on 287 goals and 394 assists. This season before the trade in 49 games he had 64 points on 25 goals and 39 assists. He won the Stanley Cup for the 2021-22 season. He finished sixth in the Hart Trophy voting in 2022-23.
ITR 36: Coaching Carousel – Inside The Rink
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