Quickie blog on Friday’s massive deal: This was about two big choices.
Choice One: What was Colorado’s limit for Mikko Rantanen? Leon Draisaitl’s $14M AAV extension and the soon-to-be-rising cap altered the negotiations. (Rantanen is also represented by the same agency as Draisaitl — Octagon.) The Avalanche just weren’t willing to go in that area, with Nathan MacKinnon at $12.6M and Cale Makar eligible for a ginormous extension of his own in July 2026.
Over the last month, it became clear a Rantanen trade was a possibility. But I honestly thought they’d wait closer until the deadline to see if he relented to stay in Denver. Evidently not.
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They will look at what else is available. Brock Nelson makes a lot of sense, but there will be a lot of competition and it’s not like the Islanders are waving a white flag.
Choice Two: What path would Carolina take? The Hurricanes kept things pretty quiet, but it was known they had the safari pants on for a big hunt. They discussed both J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson with Vancouver (in separate trades, not together). I believe Necas would have been involved in a Pettersson deal, but not a Miller one. Obviously, there are other moves they could have considered.
It reached decision time, and they opted for Rantanen. One of the reasons they struck now is they want to sign him, with longtime friend Sebastian Aho — also his teammate at the upcoming 4 Nations — leading the charge. How do the Hurricanes feel about Rantanen’s target? Is he willing to budge at all? Do they feel it is imperative to get it done by the trade deadline, March 7? If it isn’t, do they keep him or flip him? All questions to be answered in the next six weeks, but no way Carolina did this without knowing exactly what Rantanen is looking for.
The Hurricanes also get Taylor Hall. Chicago legitimately tried to keep him, but this is a winning opportunity in the moment.
The Blackhawks brokered this deal. If Rantanen does hit the market this summer, it wouldn’t be a stunner to see them make a run at him.
Also: I know there’s a lot of fan/media hope for Sidney Crosby in Colorado this season, but I’d be shocked. I’ve been shocked before, but that would really do it.
Crazy night, but one we’ll remember a long time.
