Why the Mikko Rantanen blockbuster trade happened now

Quickie blog on Friday’s massive deal: This was about two big picks.

Choice One: What was Colorado’s limit for Mikko Rantanen? Leon Draisaitl’s $14 million AAV extension and the soon-to-rise cap changed the negotiations. (Rantanen is also represented by the same agency as Draisaitl: Octagon.) The Avalanche just weren’t willing to go in that range, with Nathan Mackinnon at $12.6 million and Cale Makar eligible for a ginormous extension of his own in July 2026 .

Over the last month, it became clear that a Rantanen trade was a possibility. But I honestly thought they would wait closer to the deadline to see if he committed to staying in Denver. Obviously 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: Which Path Would Carolina Take? The Hurricanes kept things pretty quiet, but it was known that they had the safari pants on a big hunt. They discussed both JT Miller and Elias Pettersson with Vancouver (in separate trades, not together). I think NECAs would have been involved in a Pettersson deal, but not a Miller one. There are of course other moves they could have considered.

It reached decision time and they chose Rantanen. One of the reasons they struck now is that they want to sign him, with long-time friend Sebastian Aho – also his team-mate in the upcoming 4 Nations – leading the charge. How do the Hurricanes feel about Rantanen’s goals? Is he even willing to bow? Do they feel it is imperative to get it done by the March 7 trade deadline? If not, 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 option at the moment.

The Blackhawks brokered that deal. If Rantanen hits the market this summer, it wouldn’t be a stunner to see them run on him.

Also: I know there is a lot of fan/media hope for Sidney Crosby in Colorado this season, but I’d be shocked. I’ve been shocked before, but this would really do it.

Crazy night, but one we remember for a long time.