Think about a world the place Mikko Rantanen will get traded for a second time in a single season. The primary time was when he was traded from the Colorado Avalanche to the Carolina Hurricanes. Nicely, in keeping with NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman, it might very properly occur. Friedman reported that if the Hurricanes weren’t capable of prolong Rantanen, they might have a look at buying and selling him. If that have been to occur, the Hurricanes might retain one other 50% of his wage, which might carry his cap hit all the way down to $2.3 million for the remainder of the season.
Right here is Friedman’s full quote from the 32 Ideas Podcast:
“I feel lots of people need to see the place that is going to go. I do consider there have been some talks between the Hurricanes and Rantanen throughout the 4 Nations, and we’ll see the place this goes. I feel if Rantanen is a pure rental, the lineup goes to be very lengthy. The factor about Rantanen is, the Blackhawks ate 50% of his wage, so in case you check out him in Carolina, his cap hit there with the Hurricanes is $4.625M. The Hurricanes have three retention spots. In the event that they need to flip Rantanen, it’s just a little over $2.3M; anyone can do this. … You’re going to have the ability to discover a strategy to deal with that … If he’s obtainable, there will probably be groups saying, ‘We are able to’t signal him, however we’ll need to do him as a rental.’ And I feel it might be good groups. You’ve received to suppose groups like Vegas, Dallas, Winnipeg, Florida, Tampa, Toronto. I ponder what you will get for him with that form of competitors.”
Just about each staff within the NHL might make it work, particularly given the participant. Nonetheless, it must be considered that he does carry a modified no-trade clause, which will help management the place he finally ends up. So, let’s check out a couple of potential commerce locations for Rantanen if he have been to be moved once more on the March 7 Commerce Deadline.
Washington Capitals
Beginning off with the Washington Capitals, they’re the most important shock within the NHL this season. After struggling final season and barely stepping into the playoffs, they’re a powerhouse within the East this 12 months. With how properly they’re taking part in, their administration group could have a look at taking a giant swing on the commerce deadline. They don’t have a ton of time left with Alexander Ovechkin nonetheless taking part in on the degree that he’s at at the moment.
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In the event that they added one other ahead to their roster, they might be one of many hardest groups to play towards within the playoffs. The one problem is that the Capitals don’t have a ton of roster gamers that will transfer the needle, which is why they might doubtless attempt to put collectively a bundle of draft picks. They’ve three picks within the first two rounds and will attempt to embody Andrew Mangiapane within the deal and even make it a three-team commerce to maneuver his contract.
Dallas Stars
Subsequent, the Dallas Stars. They’re coming off making one other massive transfer that introduced in Mikael Granlund and Cody Ceci, nevertheless it doesn’t look like Jim Nill is finished making strikes simply but. He has some property that he might transfer to make a case to be the frontrunner to accumulate Rantanen from the Hurricanes. With Dallas additionally being a state with no state taxes, it could enhance their probabilities of signing Rantanen after the season ends.
Regardless, the Stars are a kind of groups which might be a powerhouse however aren’t talked about sufficient, and including a participant of his caliber would push them into the odds-on favourite for the Stanley Cup. The Hurricanes might have a look at a participant like Mavrik Bourque as a key member of a return for Rantanen.
Winnipeg Jets
The final staff is the Winnipeg Jets. They’ve the roster make-up to go on a stable run down the stretch and into the playoffs, and including a participant like Rantanen would enhance their probabilities of profitable the Cup. Whether it is reported that Rantanen is 100% available on the market once more, then the Jets could also be tied with the Stars because the early frontrunner to land his companies. The match with the Jets makes a ton of sense, as he would slot into their roster seamlessly. They’re a hard-to-play-against, heavy staff, and Rantanen brings each of these parts whereas additionally being a 100-point scorer.
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If Hurricanes’ common supervisor Eric Tulsky needed to choose a staff to commerce Rantanen to, it must be the Jets. He might goal Colby Barlow, Cole Perfetti, and even Nikolaj Ehlers, who’s a pending UFA. Tulsky would have probably the most choices for his return if he selected the Jets.
There are a handful of different groups that would specific curiosity in Rantanen, just like the Edmonton Oilers, Vegas Golden Knights, Toronto Maple Leafs, and, after all, the Avalanche. Nonetheless, they don’t have a ton of property to surrender that will make the Hurricanes need to transfer Rantanen. The Avalanche could be not possible to re-acquire him from the Hurricanes, provided that they traded him simply over a month in the past—however stranger issues have occurred within the NHL.
