Avalanche GM sends a clear message to fans over shock Mikko Rantanen trade

The Colorado Avalanche made a big move by trading Mikko Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes in a three-team deal. This trade also included the Chicago Blackhawks, who sent Taylor Hall to Carolina.

Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland spoke about the trade during a discussion with ESPN's Greg Wyshynski. He acknowledged that it was tough for fans.

"It hurts, right? He's a homegrown talent, a superstar talent, a superstar human being. But that's sports. Your heartstrings get tugged. That's why we all do this," MacFarland said.

However, MacFarland explained that the decision was made due to Rantanen’s potential free agency after this season.

"He had the UFA card. We felt this is what we had to do."

Rantanen was playing in the last year of his six-year, $55.5 million contract signed with the Colorado Avalanche in September 2019. His contract carried a $9.25 million cap hit and his negotiation numbers were much higher than that. The Avalanche failed to agree to his asking price leading to the trade.

NHL insider Pierre LeBrun shared on X:

"Rantanen was willing to continue negotiating throughout the season with Colorado. In fact, both sides had more contract talks this past week. Just couldn't find enough common ground. The Avs, in the end, made the calculation they were never going to get there on a number..."

In exchange for Mikko Rantanen, the Avalanche received Martin Necas and Jack Drury from Carolina, as well as draft picks for 2025 and 2026.

MacFarland believes that the timing was right for the move because the trade deadline on March 7 is only one and a half months away. Considering Rantanen's AAV, the opportunity would've been hard to find.

GM Chris MacFarland said Mikko Rantanen was traded after "a lot of serious thought"

Mikko Rantanen was drafted 10th overall by Colorado in 2015 and helped the team win the Stanley Cup in 2022. This season, he has scored 64 points, including 25 goals, and is only second behind Nathan MacKinnon.

Despite his strong performance, the Avalanche opted to trade him. Earlier on Saturday, Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland said, per NHL.com:

“It’s a bittersweet day, right? Mikko is a decorated player for us, he’s an elite winger in this league. So, it was a tough few days, but we just felt the timing was right, and the last few days it kind of came together ... We decided to act yesterday, but it wasn’t without a lot of serious thought, I can assure you of that.”

Rantanen has 101 points in 81 playoff games. Hurricanes GM Eric Tulsky said Mikko Rantanen "should fit our system." Time will tell whether he is right.