In one of the most notable trades in recent National Hockey League history, the Carolina Hurricanes and Colorado Avalanche got together on an absolute stunner of a deal, while the Chicago Blackhawks were also involved.
Hurricanes receive: Mikko Rantanen from Colorado, Taylor Hall from Chicago
Avalanche receive: Martin Necas, Jack Drury, a second-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, a fourth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft
Blackhawks receive: A third-round pick in the 2025 Draft from Carolina, while retaining 50 percent of Rantanen's salary.
THIS IS A BIG DEAL‼️
Details » https://t.co/CI5CL23V8M pic.twitter.com/9WRKWRt2Aw
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) January 25, 2025
It was one of the most consequential trades the history of both the Hurricanes and Avalanche, and it wasn't long before the shocked reactions of fans began pouring in all over social media.
Two guys rumored that they wanted to be traded end up getting traded for bonafide star Mikko Rantanen and as a bonus we get Taylor Hall to help offset the numbers and improve a bit. I just see this as a massive W (assuming we extend them).
— Canıac (@AceCaniac) January 25, 2025
Y’all take better than exceptional care of Mikko. Truly an awesome person. And I’ll be expecting a ton of Moose content on the team’s socials (if y’all would be so kind).
— Nicholas Johnson (@npj11279) January 25, 2025
I’m so going to miss Drury & Necas but I’m on so excited on what this trade can do for us.
— Maria 🏒✝️ 🙏🏻🇮🇱 (@RoyaltyJ316) January 25, 2025
Y'all blew up the Internet with this! Well done! 👊
— CaniacAnnie 🇺🇸 🏒 🛻 🐕 (@AnnieGoldman) January 25, 2025
WOWIWOWOWOOWKWKWKWKWKSOSOAOWOWOOWWOOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOOWOWOWOWOWOWIWOWOOWOWOWOWOWO THIS IS EPIC!!!
— PKanes (@David_Martin77) January 25, 2025
IDK WHATS HAPPENING IVE BEEN PACING FOR AN HOUR
— RAISE UP (@bleedgreen9206) January 25, 2025
Rantanen will make his Hurricanes debut on Saturday night when he and his new Carolina teammates face the New York Islanders at UBS Arena.
Mikko Rantanen is in the final year of his contract

Rantanen is one of the top players in the NHL, and he wants to be paid like it. He's in the final year of his current contract with a cap hit of $9.25 million, but is reportedly seeking a similar deal that was recently signed by Edmonton Oilers star forward Leon Draisaitl.
Draisaitl recently agreed to an eight-year, $112 million deal for a cap hit of $14 million a season.
It'll be interesting to see how Rantanen fares with the Hurricanes for the rest of the 2024-25 campaign — and where he ends up on July 1.