NHL Rumor Mill – February 22, 2025
Mikko Rantanen is the subject of trade speculation again plus the latest on the Golden Knights in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
SPORTSNET: During Friday’s “32 Thoughts: The Podcast”, Elliotte Friedman speculated the Carolina Hurricanes could put winger Mikko Rantanen on the trade block if unable to re-sign him before the March 7 trade deadline.
The Hurricanes acquired the 28-year-old Rantanen last month in a multi-player three-team trade involving the Colorado Avalanche and Chicago Blackhawks. Carolina gave up Martin Necas and Jack Drury to the Avalanche for Rantanen.
Carolina Hurricanes winger Mikko Rantanen (NHL Images).
Friedman believes there were some contract discussions between Hurricanes management and the Rantanen camp. If he becomes a pure rental, there could be a long lineup of teams for him, opening it up for anyone to pursue him.
The Blackhawks retained 50 percent of his salary, leaving Carolina with a cap hit of $4.625 million. They have three salary retention spots, enabling them to retain up to half ($2.312 million) of their share of his cap hit in a trade.
Friedman speculated that teams like Vegas, Dallas, Winnipeg, Florida, Tampa, and Toronto might be interested. That could drive up Carolina’s asking price.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes are rumored to be willing to pay Rantanen an average annual value of $14 million but it could come down to whether he thinks they’re a good fit.
The Hurricanes could retain Rantanen for the playoffs. However, they gave up a lot to get him with the intention of making him a long-term addition to their roster.
Team owner Tom Dundon doesn’t want to repeat last year’s situation involving Jake Guentzel. They acquired Guentzel from Pittsburgh at the trade deadline hoping to re-sign him, only to end up trading his rights to Tampa Bay after he informed them he was going to market on July 1.
Rantanen’s scoring ability ensures he’ll draw plenty of interest if the Hurricanes shop him before the March 7 trade deadline. Retaining half of their share of his cap hit will make him more attractive and fetch a better return.
The teams mentioned by Friedman could become suitors for Rantanen but they could pass if he doesn’t address their pressing roster needs. For example, the Jets need a second-line center, the Leafs are looking for a third-line center, and the Panthers must shore up their blueline.
Not every club will have sufficient assets to win a bidding war Of the teams Friedman mentioned, the Jets are the only one with a first-round pick in this year’s draft. Some lack promising young assets after earlier trades drained the depth of their prospect pools.
DAILY FACEOFF: The Vegas Golden Knights could be a team to watch leading up to March 7. They have a history of making big moves before the deadline and GM Kelly McCrimmon is expected to have his eyes peeling on the trade market.
The Golden Knights have limited salary-cap space, no first-round picks until 2027, and a questionable prospect pool. However, they could garner some cap relief if defenseman Shea Theodore ends up on long-term injury reserve until the playoffs.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Theodore suffered an upper-body injury playing for Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off. He has an AAV of $5.2 million.
Frank Seravalli believes the Golden Knights have likely made trade inquiries around the league. If Mikko Rantanen becomes available and the Hurricanes are willing to retain salary, he could fit within their cap space.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights might not need Theodore to be on LTIR to acquire Rantanen in a salary-retention deal. They’re projected to have over $3.4 million of cap space at the trade deadline. Nevertheless, their short supply of trade capital puts them at a disadvantage trying to outbid other teams for someone like Rantanen or any other notable player they might have an eye on.
Maybe the Avs could trade for Miko as THEIR RENTAL!!! What a development that would be!!!!!!🤭🙃
Lol. For middlestadt. The same pick they received and another player/ prospect. That would be something
Mikko Raantanen would make a nice deadline deal for the Devils to play with Meier and Hischier
If Rantanen does get dealt again and it’s to a western conference team, would make for some awesome playoff storylines. Imagine the Avs going against him in the first round, don’t know about you guys but I’m definitely staying up late to watch that series! I have now idea what or where he’s looking to play next year but… would the Kings trade a Q. Byfield to land him if they thought he would resign??
Carolina is a well managed club. One has to think that when they acquired Rantanen that they considered the chance he would not resign and are OK with taking that risk even if not the outcome they hope for.
Adding him to any potential deadline lists I feel is just a name that media can talk about to make the 8 hrs of trade talk on deadline day a tad more interesting.
Also they are not likely to trade him in conference to a contender…and who in the west is going to give a package of equal win now capital.
Nonsense.
1Oilerfan, not so sure that Carolina is so well managed! They gave up Necas and Drury 2 very solid young players,they signed Guentzel last year and he walked on them!Rantanen looks like he is walking!Their previous GM Waddell has had a great year in Columbus,why did he leave Carolina?
Sr … all do respect that appears to me like all in moves made to try and get over the hump to win a cup.
They have had 3 straight 110 plus point seasons and likely would have been 4 of not for the shortened season prior to that.
Stars they have are signed to affordable contracts. Good nucleus. Some good prospects in their system that someone ranked 13th in the nhl while consistently winning. Not sure what other metrics we can judge by.
They are not my team but if they were I would rather them be risky to try and win vs the rinse and repeat method many clubs are satisfied with.
I would be very shocked if Carolina trained Miko already
Sounds like he wants $14 years from another team
I think if you could get
$12.5 to $13.M from
Colorado he would take it andstay in Colorado. You might end back up there.
You never know.❓❓
Any thoughts on where else he would Go….. ❗️❓
1Oilerfan,let s remember who was the architect of all those previous seasons!Yep Don Waddell!
Rantanen has a 9 team NTC so trade speculation is somewhat moot.
Would be nice to see him be a UFA signing in Chicago, or back in Colorado as unlikely as it appears.
Rantanen, MacKinnon, Necas all together.
Rantanen with Bedard in Chicago and their young guns breakin make a fun fit too.
Ron Moore,
Good point ,
Habs have Suzuki/Caufield fit like a glove, better together than apart.
Most if not all teams have a similar situation and need the “right” third linemate.
That’s where pro-scouting comes into play along with coaching skills.
Splitting the duo to spread talent often backfires for some reason.
It has been the mantra in Montreal for a long time, pairing players who just fit better together than apart.
This year it’s Evans and Armia who read each other.
Gotta wonder how much is MacKinnon is responsible for Rantanen’s play. As we saw in the 4Nations, one was very noticeable and the other was meh. 🫤
Before we backup a brinks truck to sign him, I don’t think it would hurt to see how well he does without MacKinnon driving the line. I’m not saying Rantanen isn’t a star, I’m saying is he a $14m star without MacKinnon?
Bingo! Ron nailed it.
Makes a LOT of common sense. You only need to look at later career records of those that put up big numbers skating with Crosby.
That lesson was brought home forcefully here in Ottawa when they dealt for Jonathan Cheechoo who had once potted 56 goals for San Jose … while skating alongside the likes of Thornton and Marleau.
Here he suddenly couldn’t put the puck in the ocean from the end of the pier and within a short spell was in the AHL and then the KHL.
It’s your Day, Ron. I wonder too.
Gonna take a riff on Johnny Z’s opening post:
any change that Raantanen is having the same thoughts, decides he likes Colorado better than he realized, and takes enough of a discount to sign with them?
Bang on
George O,I thought that might happen to Pasternak after Bergeron,Krecji,but he has risen above that the last year and a half! Imagine what he could do with a real 1st line center?
Josh Norris, Perron (for money) and this year’s first for rantannen 😀
Owen,not even close! Norris,shoulder injuries,Peron old,missed much of this year! Draft pick is a coin toss!You would have to start with Stutzle or Tkachuk!
Mikko (sign and trade?) for Brady straight up. Moves Brady closer his brother and to a team allegedly closer to a cup.
Just a thought
Mikko Rantanen, is a big bodied solid player, fast as well. Although 14 per year is pushing it. He’s more in the range of a 10 to 12 area. He also has had a few injuries in his career. It will be interesting on how everything shakes out with him in the next few weeks. Carolina has a legit shot, maybe roll the dice and just keep him for the playoff run.
Rantanen would be short a year hitting the open market . That has to a big consideration in any decision if you are talking $14m AAV.
Does he want $16m? A tax free State break on half the games ?
Love the player but with those dollars involved it has trouble written all over the place .
On the flip side , You have to give him 5 minutes before you ask him to marry the franchise
Thinking Rantanen is Huberdeau 2.0
Brad T: “Mitch, would you agree to a 1 year 2 million dollar contract, IF you get to play with Rantanen next year?
Think about it. 2 years from now, we can talk about a long -term 17 million a year deal. Each!”
*” Wake up Dave!! You are dreaming!!”
Thinking Rantanen is Huberdeau 2.0′ Trade him as a pure rental to Dallas for Stankoven, Bischel and a 2nd.
Dallas can’t afford to sign him, so try again in FA. If he does not sign now h loses that 8th yr, it is a big deal! He needs wake up! I don’t think he is going to worth the 14M AAV……….sad.
Dallas can afford to sign him. He wouldn’t be a rental in Dallas.