Wow. The Carolina Hurricanes are all in on finally winning a second Stanley Cup this season – and their latest roster moves reflect that desire.
Late on Friday, January 24, the Canes pulled off a blockbuster trade to acquire star wingers Mikko Rantanen and Taylor Hall. Rantanen comes over from the Colorado Avalanche, while Hall comes from the Chicago Blackhawks.
To acquire both wingers, Carolina said goodbye to promising young prospect Jack Drury and Martin Nečas, a fan favorite, who sits 12th in the NHL with 55 points (16 goals, 39 assists). The Canes sent Nečas and Drury to Colorado, plus a pair of future draft picks.
Rantanen, the 10th overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, is currently sixth in the NHL with 64 points (25 goals, 39 assists). Hall, the first overall pick in the 2010 NHL Draft, has nine goals and 15 assists through 46 games.
Rantanen is an elite scorer, recording consecutive 100-point seasons. He helped the Avalanche win a Stanley Cup title in 2022, registering 92 points that year. I imagine Rantanen is an immediate fixture on Carolina’s top line, along with Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov.
Hall has also played for the Edmonton Oilers, New Jersey Devils, Arizona Coyotes, Boston Bruins and Buffalo Sabres. Hall’s best season came during the 2017-2018 season with New Jersey, scoring 39 goals and dishing out 54 assists.
Rantanen is just 28 and at the start of his prime – and I bet he’s in Carolina to stay. Hall is 33 – and my hope is that he finishes his career as a Cane.
It’ll be weird not seeing Nečas suit up in Carolina anymore, but sometimes, your team has to make tough moves to improve its playoff chances.
Welcome to Raleigh, Rantanen and Hall. Let’s get to work!
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