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Update: The mega trade between the Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche and Chicago Blackhawks involving Mikko Rantanen is official.
The Hurricanes acquired superstar Mikko Rantanen and Taylor Hall from the Avalanche and Blackhawks, respectively. They also received the rights to forward Nils Juntorp.
The Avalanche received forwards Martin Necas and Jack Drury, as well as a 2025 second-round NHL draft pick and a 2026 fourth-round pick from the Hurricanes.
The Blackhawks acquired a third-round pick in 2025 that originally belonged to them from Carolina. They also retained 50 percent of Rantanen’s $9.25 million cap hit.
The announcement came after multiple reports of the massive deal. Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli first reported Rantanen heading to Carolina. TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reported a three-team deal was in the works involving Hall and mentioned the third-rounder to Chicago. The Athletic’s Arthur Staple and Bleacher Report’s Sara Civian reported Necas is going to the Avalanche. ESPN’s Emily Kaplan and Friedman reported Drury is going to Colorado from Carolina. Kaplan also reported the Avalanche will get the two picks.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported there is no extension at the moment for Rantanen as part of the trade.
“Mikko is one of the premier power forwards in our sport,” Hurricanes GM Eric Tulsky said in a news release. “It’s no secret that we’ve wanted to add elite skill to our lineup, and this is a player who should fit our system and locker room well. And Taylor gives us another high-skill option to bolster our attack.”
Ahead of the 4 Nations Face-Off, Rantanen will be joining Finnish teammate Sebastian Aho in Carolina.
Rantanen, 28, is in the final year of a six-year contract worth $9.25 million annually and is a pending UFA. As the Avalanche had not been able to agree on a contract extension with him, they sought a return for him rather than risking losing him for nothing in free agency.
This season, Rantanen is sixth in NHL scoring with 25 goals and 64 points. No player in Hurricanes history has finished top-10 in scoring since Eric Staal in the 2005-06 season. Over the last five seasons, Rantanen also has had the fourth most points in the NHL, with 431.
Hall, 33, is also a pending UFA with a $6-million cap hit. This is the fifth time Hall has been traded in his 15-season NHL career. In the past, the former Hart Trophy winner was moved to the New Jersey Devils, Arizona Coyotes, and the…