Nathan MacKinnon makes feelings crystal clear after Avs trade away Mikko Rantanen

Nathan MacKinnon shares his thoughts on the recent trade that sent Mikko Rantanen from the Colorado Avalanche to the Carolina Hurricanes.

MacKinnon opened up after the Avs' first game without Mikko Rantanen, a 3-1 loss to Boston, about the emotional impact of losing his longtime teammate and friend.

"Bigger picture is obviously losing Mikko. Great friend, 9-10 years together, (we) won a Cup together. It's just sad, I don't exactly know what happened," MacKinnon said.

"I called Mikko shortly after (the trade), we talked for 20 mins. It's just unfortunate. Obviously, losing a great friend, a great teammate. I'm gonna miss him."

The trade saw the Avalanche receiving Martin Necas and Jack Drury from the Hurricanes, along with a 2025 second-round draft choice and a 2026 third-round selection. The Hurricanes also added Taylor Hall from the Chicago Blackhawks. Chicago received a 2025 third-round draft pick and 50% of Rantanen's salary.

MacKinnon, who had been hoping for a similar last-minute contract extension for Rantanen as the team had managed with Gabriel Landeskog, was clearly caught off guard by the sudden move.

"I just had been asking him, it's tough, you don't wanna get in somebody's business. Even when Gabe (Landeskog) didn't sign, it was in the last minute. He was up. So, I just assumed it would be kind of the same thing. I'd never thought in a million years that he'd leave. Just sucks."

Mikko Rantanen has 25 goals and 64 points in 49 games this season.

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Hurricanes GM Eric Tulsky excited to add Mikko Rantanen

The Carolina Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky expressed his enthusiasm about adding the skilled winger Mikko Rantanen to the team.

"He's a fantastic fit for the way we play," Tulsky said (per NHL.con). "We play a system that has us battling for pucks along the walls and trying to make plays at the net front, and he's just one of the best in the League at some of those things."

Tulsky highlighted the similarities between Rantanen's game and the Hurricanes' identity, which is largely defined by the physical presence and playmaking ability of center Jordan Staal.

"A lot of the identity of our team right now comes from the way [Staal] plays and sort of carries play with his heaviness and his strength, and Mikko can do all of that but with really high-level skill to go with it."he added.

Tulsky also noted that the Hurricanes had been eyeing Rantanen for some time and wanted to acquire him before the trade deadline.