NHL Rumors: Insider claims Mikko Rantanen 'very upset' following shock Hurricanes trade

Finnish forward Mikko Rantanen’s three-way trade to the Carolina Hurricanes is causing a storm in the NHL. The Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche and Chicago Blackhawks were all active on Friday night and sealed massive deals. Apparently, not everyone was happy with the outcome.

According to FanDuel Sports Network reporter Andy Strickland, Rantanen himself was not in favor of leaving the Avs.

“Mikko Rantanen was completely caught off guard by the trade and was very upset.” Strickland posted on X. “Colorado showed very little to no interest in attempting to re-sign him over the last several months. This was a panic move by Colorado.”

The details of the trade deal broke on social media on Friday. The Hurricanes sent Martin Necas, Jack Drury, a 2025 second-round draft pick and a 2026 fourth-round pick to the Avs. They also traded their 2025 third-round draft pick for Blackhawks forward Taylor Hall.

The deal is set to boost the Hurricanes' Stanley Cup chances, analysts said. The team is currently second in the Metropolitan Division at 30-16-3 (63 points). They were also reportedly trying to sign J.T. Miller from the Vancouver Canucks but pivoted to Rantanen instead.

The Avalanche posted a farewell message for Rantanen on Instagram:

"A champion, a leader, and forever the Moose. Thank you for a decade of memories in Burgundy and Blue."

NHL insider Elliotte Friedman offered a possible explanation as to why Colorado had been dragging their feet over re-signing Rantanen.

"I just think the Avalanche didn't want to go where Rantanen was going to cost them and they made the decision," Friedman said via the NHL Network.

Mikko Rantanen and Avalanche couldn’t agree on a number, claimed Pierre LeBrun

TSN analyst Piere LeBrun posted on X (formerly Twitter) that Mikko Rantanen was still in talks with the Colorado Avalanche about renewing his contract when the trade was made.

“Rantanen was willing to continue negotiating throughout the season with Colorado," LeBrun said. "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.”

LeBrun also opined that the Hurricanes were in talks with the Canucks as well before finalizing the acquisition of Rantanen.

“My sense is that Carolina and Vancouver got fairly close on a trade before the Hurricanes went the Colorado route,” LeBrun posted.

Rantanen won the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 2022.