The Carolina Hurricanes have acquired winger Mikko Rantanen from the Colorado Avalanche in three-team trade that also included the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday, as reported by Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli.

In return, the Avalanche get centers Martin Necas and Jack Drury from the Hurricanes, along with a 2025 2nd-round pick and a 2026 4th-round pick. Jesperi Kotkaniemi was originally believed to be a part of the deal, but that has since been denied by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.

Blackhawks winger Taylor Hall will also be moving to the Hurricanes in this deal, with the Blackhawks getting a 2025 third-round pick in return. They will also be retaining 50% of Rantanen’s salary in the trade, and none of Hall’s. Winger Nils Juntorp goes from the Blackhawks to the Hurricanes in this deal.

Rantanen did not find himself on Seravalli’s trade targets list published earlier on Friday, but there were some rumours swirling about his long-term status with the Avalanche with his pending unrestricted free agent status and how far apart Rantanen and the Avs were on a new contract. However, it didn’t seem like a trade was in the works until just now.

There is currently no extension in place with Rantanen and the Hurricanes.

Rantanen is in the midst of another excellent season with the Avalanche, with 25 goals and 39 assists for 64 points in 49 games.

Necas and Drury were also unlisted on Seravalli’s trade targets, and likely weren’t a consideration to be moved by the Hurricanes until a player of Rantanen’s caliber became available to them. Considering how desperate they’ve been for finishing talent, Rantanen provides that ten-fold for the Canes, and while Necas is a big piece to move on from, it’s more than worth the cost.

Necas has been having a career year thus far, with 16 goals and 39 assists for 55 points in 49 games.

Drury has taken a slight step back after a breakout 2023-24 campaign, with 3 goals and 6 assists for 9 points in 39 games this season.

Hall was ranked fourth on Seravalli’s list, and was a less surprising name to be moved considering his pending UFA status on a Blackhawks team far from playoff contention. He was made a healthy scratch ahead of Friday’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, but it wasn’t known that it was for a trade until the deal was made.

Hall has had a bit of a down year on a struggling Blackhawks team, with 9 goals and 15 assists for 24 points in 46 games.

Juntorp has been held pointless in 3 games with Vasteras IK in Swe-1.