According to the latest reports, Rantanen was seeking a contract worth $14 million per season, although he could have been willing to take less money to stay in Colorado. Even a figure near Nathan MacKinnon’s $12.6 million average annual value might already have posed a challenge to the Avalanche, thus the trade.

The Hurricanes have made the playoffs for six straight years, with two of those pushes reaching the Eastern Conference Final. But they’re still looking for a breakthrough to the Stanley Cup Final in this current run under coach Rod Brind’Amour.

The Carolina Hurricanes acquired forward Mikko Rantanen from the Colorado Avalanche and forward Taylor Hall from the Chicago Blackhawks in a blockbuster three-team trade Friday. The Hurricanes sent forwards Jack Drury and Martin Necas to Colorado, along with a second-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft and a fourth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.