The Carolina Hurricanes made a significant acquisition by bringing in Mikko Rantanen last month, but there is growing speculation that his time in Raleigh may be brief. David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reported during Tuesday’s edition of “The Latest” that discussions about the Finnish winger at the 4 Nations Face-Off have raised concerns about his long-term future with the team. “There’s been a lot of chatter over the last few days about his future, and it doesn’t seem likely to be in Raleigh,” Pagnotta said. “While things can certainly change and this information is largely speculative, it’s important to highlight that money won’t be the issue.
“It really comes down to Mikko Rantanen’s comfort with staying long-term, and there are many around the league who are doubtful about that.” The Hurricanes had intended to secure Rantanen for the long haul by offering a contract worth over 100millionafteracquiringhimfromColoradoinathree−waytradethatalsoinvolvedtheChicagoBlackhawks.”Carolinaispreparedtopayhimthesignificantsalaryhe′sseeking,inthe 14 million range per year,” Pagnotta reported. “So that’s not a concern.”
The Hurricanes have the unique advantage of being able to extend Rantanen with an eight-year deal, while the other 31 teams can only offer a maximum of seven seasons. However, Frank Seravalli from Daily Faceoff mentioned on February 11 that the Hurricanes might consider trading him again before the deadline if they sense he won’t agree to an extension, as his current $ 55.5 million deal is set to expire in July.
Frank Seravalli talks about the future of Mikko Rantanen and the possibly of returning to Colorado if he doesn't sign in Carolina.
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Seravalli mentioned, “As March 7 approaches and if he remains unsigned with a sense that he won’t sign, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Hurricanes trade him, particularly if his production continues to be low.” Since joining Carolina, Rantanen has recorded only two points in six games, while former Hurricanes Martin Necas and Jack Drury, who were traded to Colorado, have significantly outperformed him. With free agency approaching on July 1, Carolina faces the risk of losing a key asset for nothing, similar to last season when they traded for Jake Guentzel, only to see him depart in free agency.
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