After simply 13 video games with the Carolina Hurricanes, famous person winger Mikko Rantanen is being traded to the Dallas Stars, sources told ESPN’s Emily Kaplan on Friday.
In return for Rantanen, a key piece of Colorado’s final Stanley Cup run, the Hurricanes are getting 21-year-old winger Logan Stankoven and 4 draft picks.
Rantanen, with 70 factors in 62 video games with Colorado and Carolina this season, will be a part of a surging Dallas workforce. Per Kaplan, he’s anticipated to signal an eight-year, $96M extension.
Carolina acquired Rantanen and winger Taylor Corridor on Jan. 25 in a three-team commerce. Per Kaplan, the workforce tried to signal Rantanen, so the commerce raises critical questions in regards to the Hurricanes.
1. Why could not the Hurricanes persuade Rantanen to signal?
That is the second yr in a row Carolina acquired the largest title earlier than the commerce deadline and could not get the participant prolonged.
Final season, the Canes reportedly slow-played winger Jake Guentzel’s contract state of affairs. When that failed, league insiders steered the Canes did the other with Rantanen, making their godfather offer (h/t Sports activities Illustrated) as quickly as doable. Discovering out if there is a frequent hyperlink right here is crucial for Carolina’s entrance workplace.
2. Why did not Carolina maintain Rantanen for the playoff push?
It appears arduous to imagine that after simply 13 video games, by which Rantanen’s metrics looked great however his scoring was a pedestrian (six factors), the Hurricanes determined he could not assist them win the Stanley Cup.
It is arduous to lose gamers to free company for nothing, particularly after buying and selling two NHL gamers and a number of draft picks to accumulate Rantanen. Nevertheless it appears odd Carolina did not maintain Rantanen and attempt to win its first Stanley Cup since 2006.
3. Are the Hurricanes nonetheless a professional contender?
The brief reply: most likely not. Carolina is second within the Metropolitan Division, 10 factors behind the Capitals.
Stankoven, 22, is an effective participant who put up 43 factors in his first 83 video games within the NHL. He already has 19 video games’ playoff expertise, a plus. However Stankoven will not be Rantanen.
The Finnish famous person is without doubt one of the greatest playoff performers of the previous decade (102 factors in 82 video games). Within the postseason, when scoring dries up for a lot of nice gamers, Rantanen is at his greatest.
When you think about the 4 gamers concerned within the two Rantanen trades since Jan. 25, Stankoven is the third-best participant. Plus, the Hurricanes additionally dealt speedy depth ahead Jack Drury within the unique deal.
It is also not clear the place Stankoven goes to play in Carolina’s lineup. Afterall, he is solely 5-foot-8 and 170 kilos. Will he play middle, the place the Hurricanes desperately want a second-line participant?
4. How will the Hurricanes use the draft ammunition?
The Hurricanes acquired 4 draft picks on this deal, together with two first-rounders. They’ll — and possibly ought to — use the extra belongings to make a commerce earlier than the NHL Draft in late June.
In the event that they’re in search of further scoring, what about longtime nuisance Chris Kreider of the Rangers? Even in an injury-riddled season, he nonetheless does one factor effectively: rating (17 objectives in 48 video games this season).
