The Mikko Rantanen trade continues to look worse by the minute for the Carolina Hurricanes. As the Finnish star’s struggles persist in Raleigh, the team is seriously considering trading him shortly after acquiring him. Martin Necas, now with the Colorado Avalanche, spoke about the move, taking a shot at his former NHL organization for seemingly not thinking it through.
Rantanen is set to become a free agent when the NHL season comes to a close, meaning Carolina must found a way to re-sign the 28-year-old star, who will be heavily sought after if he hits the open market.
However, with his performance in Carolina falling short of expectations, the organization has doubts about extending his stay in Raleigh. The Hurricanes now find themselves between a rock and a hard place. They can either take a big gamble by extending Rantanen’s contract or cut their losses and trade him to another contender before the playoffs arrive.
Colorado, the other main party in the NHL‘s January blockbuster three-team trade, is in a much different situation. Acquiring Martin Necas has been a home run hit for the franchise, bringing no headaches to the team. Now settled in Denver, Necas still keeps a close eye on the ongoing drama in North Carolina and recently he sent a taunting message to his former team.
“Obviously, I’ve seen it. I still talk to a lot of guys in Carolina. It’s a tough position for them,” Necas stated, per DNVR Avalanche on X. “They probably should’ve known that Rantanen would sign in Carolina. I don’t know if he’s signing or not; nobody knows until something happens. I cheer for us, but obviously wish all the guys the best of luck. Whatever happens, happens. All good from here.”
Rumors abundle
Rantanen’s situation in Carolina is arguably the most dramatic storyline heading into the NHL trade deadline. Every hour new reports emerge outdating what was said previously, and it remains unclear where the team stands about their recently acquired superstar.
The Hurricanes “have received interest from the Dallas Stars, Vegas Golden Knights and Florida Panthers, among others,” as reported by Bleacher Report. However, whether a trade finally occurs is not certain.
Carolina is currently gauging Rantanen’s trade value, before fully investing on an expensive extension. Rantanen, for his part, is not fully committing to the organization prior to March 7’s deadline.
However, the Hurricanes haven’t given permission for teams to directly communicate with Mikko Rantanen’s camp. As it stands, the next 24 hours should be very interesting, with every team eyeing the Stanley Cup likely knocking on the Canes’ door.