Superstar Mikko Rantanen Shockingly Traded by the Colorado Avalanche
It was announced today amid a flurry of trades that Mikko Rantanen has been traded by the Colorado Avalanche to the Carolina Hurricanes.
Mere minuted after the Hurricanes traded for former Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall, the team has traded for league superstar from the Colorado Avalanche Mikko Rantanen.
The news was broken by top NHL insider Frank Seravalli.
Mikko Rantanen has been a key piece of the Colorado Avalanche ever since being drafted 10th overall in 2015.
He won the Stanley Cup alongside supporting cast Nathan Mackinnon, Cale Makar, and Devon Toews in 2022, and has been among the best players in the NHL for the better part of a decade.
In fact, he is the fourth highest scoring player in the NHL in the last five seasons:
There are reports that this trade is part of the Taylor Hall deal, in a complex three-way move between the Avalanche, Blackhawks, and Hurricanes.
Reports suggest that Martin Necas, who was involved in many trade rumours this summer, is part of the package going back to the Colorado Avalanche.
Former third overall pick Jesperi Kotkaniemi will not be going to the Avalanche in the deal, despite reports of such beforehand.
They will instead be getting Jack Drury:
Elliotte Friedman has now confirmed that Mikko Rantanen will be going to the Carolina Hurricanes:
The Blackhawks will retain half of Rantanen's salary:
Friedman has equally confirmed that there is no extension in place for Rantanen as a piece of the deal. Reports emerged earlier this season that he was seeking a deal in the $14 million annual average value range, far surpassing the salary of teammate Nathan Mackinnon.
What a crazy day in the NHL.
UPDATE
The trade is complete:
| G | A | PTS | ||
| Andrei Kuzmenko | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| David Pastrnak | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Nick Suzuki | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Matthew Tkachuk | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Marco Rossi | - | 3 | 3 | |
| Morgan Geekie | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Mason McTavish | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Ryan Nugent-Hopkins | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Jesper Bratt | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Cole Caufield | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Evgeny Dadonov | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Aaron Ekblad | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| A.J. Greer | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Jansen Harkins | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Martin Pospisil | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Alexander Romanov | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Trevor Zegras | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Mats Zuccarello | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Aleksander Barkov | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Kevin Fiala | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Complete stats | ||||
| STANDINGS 2024-2025 | ||||||
TOP 10 | GP | W | L | OL | PTS | |
Capitals | 48 | 33 | 10 | 5 | 71 | |
Jets | 50 | 33 | 14 | 3 | 69 | |
Golden Knights | 49 | 30 | 15 | 4 | 64 | |
Oilers | 48 | 30 | 15 | 3 | 63 | |
Hurricanes | 49 | 30 | 16 | 3 | 63 | |
Maple Leafs | 49 | 30 | 17 | 2 | 62 | |
Stars | 48 | 30 | 17 | 1 | 61 | |
Wild | 48 | 28 | 16 | 4 | 60 | |
Devils | 50 | 27 | 17 | 6 | 60 | |
Panthers | 49 | 28 | 18 | 3 | 59 | |
| Conference | Cumulative | ||||||