The Frustrating Saga of Mikko Rantanen

By Katie Bartlett

He didn’t start nor end the season with the Carolina Hurricanes, but Mikko Rantanen’s brief tenure with the Canes is sure to be one of the most memorable and exasperating hallmarks of the 2024-2025 season. So, how best to recap what happened without rehashing the same storylines we’ve all read over and over?

A Game of Chicken

This whole situation started with a high-stakes game of chicken. Rantanen and his camp wanted a huge paycheck and the Avs’ organization could afford to meet those demands if they planned to extend Cale Makar and ice a competitive hockey team. Once the Avs got to the point where they believed that Rantanen’s presence was more of a detriment to the team’s present and future success than a boon, they pulled the trigger and traded him to the Carolina Hurricanes, (in exchange for Martin Necas & Jack Drury) much to Mikko’s personal shock and dismay.

Opportunity Lost

Mikko Rantanen never expected to be traded. That much is patently obvious. Unfortunately, the shock of the trade and the negative feelings that went along with it became inextricably connected in his mind to the Carolina Hurricanes. I wish he would have taken a step back and realized the unique opportunity that he would have on the Canes. He would have been the highest paid player (by a lot), the #1 offensive weapon, a positive locker room role model, and much, much more. It was a chance to step out from under MacKinnon and Makar’s shadows and prove that he had the ability to lead a team to Stanley Cup glory on his own merits. Instead, he gave into the negative voices around him and settled for a team where he’s just another cog in the system.

Swinging for the Fences

It’s no wonder why the Hurricanes took a chance on this trade. It was an opportunity to add an established superstar to an already loaded roster at the expense of two proven players who had indicated that they would like to play elsewhere. Even without an extension in place, the Canes believed that Mikko would come around and that he could provide that extra spark to help them overcome the hurdles that they have yet to surpass in the postseason. Unfortunately, sometimes what looks like a homerun off the bat turns into a long foul ball.

Digging In

After a long foul ball, the batter hasn’t struck out but still must dig in and continue the at-bat. That’s exactly what Tulsky and the Hurricanes did once it became readily apparent that Rantanen was unwilling to see himself as a Cane and that his attitude was negatively impacting the other players. They explored offers from the list of Mikko’s preferred teams, rumored to be Toronto, Vegas, Florida & Dallas settling on the one from the Stars that brought them Logan Stankoven and a passel of draft picks. It’s not as satisfying as the long ball, but it keeps them in the game with the Stanley Cup very much still in play.

Together, Together, Together

In the aftermath of this whole dramatic saga, the most positive outcome so far has been the sense of unity that this team has demonstrated both on and off the ice. Whether through hard-fought wins over other Cup contenders or feisty interviews with national media, this Canes team is showing that they love playing for each other in Carolina and that they believe that they are enough to bring championship glory to Raleigh. Hurricanes Hockey ™ is a brand unique to the Canes and they are ready to put their stamp on this postseason. And when they do it, they are going to do it TOGETHER.