BOTTOM LINE: The Carolina Hurricanes face the New York Rangers in Metropolitan Division play on Tuesday. New York has a 6-7-0 record in Metropolitan Division games and a 24-21-4 record overall. The Rangers have scored and allowed 148 goals this season for an even scoring differential.
Where does the NHL's biggest in-season trade in decades leave the Canes, Avs and Blackhawks ... and the Canucks and Rangers? Let's dig in.
Rantanen has been an essential member of the Avalanche's core since arriving in 2015-16, having won the Stanley Cup in 2021-22. Widely regarded as one of the NHL's premier offensive talents, he stands among the league's top five scorers over the last five seasons.
Martin Necas had two assists, nearly scored twice himself and excelled on the top line. Jack Drury scored a goal and centered a new-look depth line while all 12 Avs forwards played more than 10 minutes, a departure from the usual top-heavy distribution.
Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon couldn't hide his frustration when addressing the huge three-team trade involving historic teammate Mikko Rantanen.
The trade that saw the superstar dealt to Carolina sent shockwaves through the league and up and down the Colorado franchise.
The New York Rangers and the Tampa Bay Lightning swapped two forwards on the trade market a day after the blockbuster deal involving Mikko Rantanen. Yesterday, the Colorado Avalanche made a massive trade with the Carolina Hurricanes and the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Hurricanes, in their history, have never traded for an in-his-prime superstar like Mikko Rantanen. This changes everything.
The Carolina Hurricanes acquired forwards Mikko Rantanen from the Colorado Avalanche and Taylor Hall from the Chicago Blackhawks in a three-team trade Friday night.
Rantanen, who has accumulated 92, 105 and 104 points in his past three seasons with the Avs, is on pace for his finest Finnish finale of 111. The Hurricanes are euphoric over the acquisition and believe they can capture the chalice for the first (and only) season since 2006. The Avalanche are destined to not win their fourth NHL championship.