"Win for the Avalanche": NHL insider Frank Corrado offers startling insight into Mikko Rantanen's Hurricanes trade in 'longer term'

Hockey fans are still trying to grasp the shocking trade that sent Mikko Rantanen to Carolina on Friday. The deal came out of left field, although more details have emerged about why it all went down.

The Colorado Avalanche realized that they couldn't afford to pay the superstar winger the price he was seeking. Instead of losing him in free agency for nothing, they recouped assets in Martin Necas, Jack Drury and two draft picks.

While losing Rantanen will sting for Avalanche fans and the organization, the reasoning for the trade is understandable.

Former NHLer and TSN hockey analyst Frank Corrado appeared on "First Up" on Monday and shared his thoughts on the trade.

"I think this trade with Colorado needs to be judged in two or three years," Corrado said (03:30). "Because trading Rantanen doesn't make them a better team right now, but two or three years down the road, if they utilize this cap space and they build a team that is not so top-heavy but has a lot of depth scattered throughout their lineup, and we're looking at it saying how do you stop Colorado, they're too good, they got too many pieces, then this trade is going to be labeled as a win for the Avalanche.

"But it just feels like they're, kind of clearing the deck for building something else. They don't want to be a top-heavy team. And it kind of like reaffirms that cap space is the No. 1 weapon at these team's disposal, and some GMs will really utilize it. Some GMs will just say, we're going to be up against the cap no matter what, and we're going to double down, triple down. But Colorado, it feels like they're trying to build something out here in the longer term."

Corrado highlighted that the Avalanche have been a top-heavy team in recent years. Their success has relied on Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar and Rantanen.

Mikko Rantanen remains without a contract extension after the trade

Despite giving up several quality pieces to acquire Mikko Rantanen, the Carolina Hurricanes did not have an extension in place as a part of the deal.

Rantanen is in the final season of a six-year $55,000,000 contract signed in 2019. He's set to receive a hefty raise from his $9.25 million average annual value.

The Hurricanes are expected to do everything they can to retain him. His relationship with Sebastian Aho could play a big part in his decision to sign long-term in Carolina.

Rantanen's second game as a Hurricane will be on Tuesday in New York against the Rangers. The puck drops at 7 p.m. EST at Madison Square Garden.