Mikko Rantanen trade details: Full breakdown of blockbuster trade between 3 teams

In a shocking three-team trade, the Colorado Avalanche announced on Friday that they will be trading longtime forward Mikko Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes. The deal, which was not anticipated, also involves veteran left winger Taylor Hall moving from the Blackhawks to the Hurricanes.

NHL insider Frank Seravalli was among the first to break the news. In exchange for Rantanen and Hall, the Hurricanes will send forward Martin Necas and center Jack Drury to the Avalanche. As part of the deal, the Chicago Blackhawks will retain half of Mikko Rantanen's cap hit for the remainder of the season and receive a third-round pick.

The 26-year-old Necas, who was a first-round pick (No. 12 overall) in the 2017 NHL draft, is having a breakout season with the Hurricanes, scoring 16 goals and 55 points in 49 games. The 6-foot-3 wing is in the first season of a two-year contract worth $13 million.

The 24-year-old Drury, a second-round pick in 2018, has nine points, including three goals, in 39 games this season. He is in the first season of a two-year contract with a $1.725 million cap hit. Drury is the nephew of New York Rangers GM Chris Drury, who played four seasons for the Avalanche and was part of their 2001 Stanley Cup-winning team.

The blockbuster deal is a significant boost for the Hurricanes, who currently sit second in the Eastern Conference with 63 points and a 30-16-3 record. The addition of Mikko Rantanen, who has had back-to-back 100-point seasons, will bolster the team's offense.

Rantanen, 28, was the Avalanche's leading scorer during their Stanley Cup run in 2021-22, with 92 points in 75 games. He is in the final year of his contract and can become an unrestricted free agent in July. Rantanen set a career high with 55 goals and 105 points in the 2022-23 season and is Colorado's leading scorer in the ongoing season with 25 goals and 64 points in 49 games.

Mikko Rantanen and Taylor Hall headed to Carolina: Hurricanes make bold move to end Stanley Cup drought

Stanley Cup Finals: Edmonton Oilers at Carolina Hurricanes Game 7 - Source: Imagn

The Carolina Hurricanes, seeking to end their nearly two-decade-long Stanley Cup drought, received a significant boost on Friday night with the acquisition of star forward Mikko Rantanen and former league MVP Taylor Hall in a surprising, blockbuster three-way deal.

The Hurricanes, currently riding a four-game winning streak, sit second in the Eastern Conference with 63 points and an impressive 30-16-3 record. The addition of Rantanen, widely regarded as one of the league's top wingers, and five-time NHL All-Star Taylor Hall, is expected to bolster the team's performance and bring them closer to their first Stanley Cup title since 2006.

Rantanen, 28, has been a dominant force in the league, with back-to-back 100-point seasons under his belt and ranking sixth in the NHL in scoring entering Friday night.

In exchange for Rantanen, the Avalanche received a significant haul, including forwards Martin Necas and Jack Drury, as well as a second-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft and a fourth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft from the Hurricanes.

Additionally, the Chicago Blackhawks, in exchange for Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall, retained half of Mikko Rantanen's $9.25 million salary and acquired a third-round pick in the 2025 Draft from the Hurricanes as part of the deal.