Mikko Rantanen has been a member of the Carolina Hurricanes for nearly a week, but it’s going to take a bit longer than that for the shock to subside.
Carolina stunned the NHL on Friday night by acquiring Rantanen from the Colorado Avalanche in a three-way deal that also sent Chicago Blackhawks winger Taylor Hall to the Hurricanes. Colorado received winger Martin Necas, the Canes’ leading scorer this season, center Jack Drury, a 2025 second-round pick and a 2026 fourth-rounder from Carolina.
Entering Wednesday night, Rantanen was tied for sixth in the NHL in scoring (65 points). Since the 2021-22 season, the 28-year-old winger was fifth with 365 points in 286 games, including back-to-back 100-point seasons.
The NHL simply does not see this level of offensive superstar traded within the regular season;…
