The Carolina Hurricanes made a bold move Friday night, acquiring high-scoring player from the Colorado Avalanche and 2018 NHL MVP Taylor Hall from the Chicago Blackhawks in a three-team transaction.
Colorado will receive Carolina’s highest scorer, forward Martin Necas, as well as bottom-six center Jack Drury, a second-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, and a fourth-round pick in 2026, all from Carolina. To balance the salary cap numbers, Carolina is sending a third-round pick in 2025 to Chicago in exchange for Hall, with the Blackhawks keeping 50% of Mikko Rantanen’s remaining $9.25 million cap hit.
It’s a bold move for Carolina, which enters Saturday’s game against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena second in the Metro at 30-16-3, eight points behind the division-leading Washington Capitals and three ahead of the New Jersey Devils. The Hurricanes are 10 points clear of the fourth-place Columbus Blue Jackets, who hold the Eastern Conference’s second wild card, and 11 ahead of the New York Rangers.
While the Hurricanes are on course for their seventh straight playoff appearance and fourth consecutive season with more than 100 points, they haven’t advanced to the Stanley Cup Final since earning their sole NHL championship in 2006. Carolina has been to the Eastern Conference Final twice in the last six seasons, but was swept by the Boston Bruins in 2019 and the Florida Panthers in 2023.
The Hurricanes have added a big-name forward who can become an unrestricted free agent in the summer for the second year in a row, following the acquisition of Jake Guentzel from the Pittsburgh Penguins last season. Although Guentzel performed well, the Hurricanes lost to the Rangers in the second round, and Guentzel chose to join with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Rantanen, who can become an unrestricted free agency on July 1, leads the Avs with 25 goals and ranks sixth in the NHL with 64 points entering Friday’s games. The first-round pick (No. 10 overall) in the 2015 NHL Draft has been an important part of Colorado’s core for several years. He achieved career highs of 55 goals and 105 points two years ago and has had back-to-back 100-point seasons.
“Mikko is one of the premier power forwards in our sport,” said Carolina General Manager Eric Tulsky. “It’s no secret that we’ve wanted to add elite talent to our lineup, and he is a player who should fit into our system and locker room nicely. And Taylor gives us another high-skilled alternative to strengthen our attack.”
Carolina swings for the fences by adding Mikko Rantanen
The 28-year-old played on Colorado’s Stanley Cup-winning squad in 2022 and has been a member of the team’s “Big Three” for the previous four seasons, along with center Nathan MacKinnon and defenseman Cale Makar. Rantanen ranks sixth in Avs/Quebec Nordiques history with 287 goals and seventh with 681 points. His 55 goals in 2022-23 are tied for third in franchise history and the most by any player since the team relocated to Colorado for the 1995-96 season.
He is expected to play on the right side of a line alongside center Sebastian Aho. They will also be colleagues on Team Finland in the 4 Nations Face-off next month.
Hall, the Edmonton Oilers’ first selection in the 2010 draft, won the Hart Trophy with the New Jersey Devils in 2017-18 but hasn’t played at that level since. He has 24 points (9 goals, 15 assists) in 46 games for Chicago this season. Carolina will be Hall’s sixth new squad; he hasn’t scored more than 20 goals or 61 points in a single season since earning the Hart Trophy seven years ago.
He hasn’t made the playoffs since playing with the Boston Bruins in 2022-23.
“There’s always a bright spot and something nice to take with you as you move on. “Everyone in a contract year understands that there are numerous possible outcomes,” he explained. “I am ready for anything. I have a wonderful wife who is always looking for a nice experience, and whether it is here or somewhere else, we will figure it out.”
Necas is having a breakthrough season. He leads Carolina with 55 points (16 goals, 39 assists) in 49 games. The 26-year-old is in his first season of a two-year, $13 million contract ($6.5 million average annual value). Don’t be surprised if he’s partnered with MacKinnon on the top line for the Avs (28-19-2), who have the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference as they face the Boston Bruins on Saturday at TD Garden.
The Hurricanes selected Necas in the first round (No. 12) of the 2017 draft. In 2022-23, he scored career highs in both goals (28) and points (71). Necas and Rantanen have similar size and position, although he is speedier and less physical.
Necas began the season with 44 points in his first 30 games. But his scoring pace dropped considerably after that, with two goals and 11 points in his next 19 games.
Drury, the nephew of New York Rangers general manager Chris Drury, will turn 25 next month. He has three goals and nine points in 39 games this season, averaging 12:53 ice time. The 5-foot-11 center was drafted in the second round in 2018 and is currently in the first year of a two-year contract with a budget charge of $1.725 million.
The move provides the Avalanche with greater draft capital and cap flexibility as they approach the NHL move Deadline on March 7. The Avs also have Necas for another cost-assured season, rather than having to worry about signing Rantanen to an eight-figure contract this summer or losing him to free agency.
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