The Carolina Hurricanes have increased the stakes for Mikko Rantanen by presenting him with a nine-figure contract offer during the 4 Nations Face-Off. NHL insider Elliotte Friedman shared this latest update on the Hurricanes-Rantanen situation during the “Saturday Headlines” segment on Sportnet.
According to Friedman, the team met directly with Rantanen’s representatives during the break and offered him a contract extension exceeding $ 100 million. “I believe that offer is in the nine digits. It’s a substantial offer, and at this moment, Rantanen has neither accepted nor declined,” Friedman stated. “He has indicated that he still needs time to process everything, given the whirlwind of emotions he’s experiencing. So, as of now, there is no response from Rantanen.”
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With the March 7 trade deadline approaching, the Carolina Hurricanes face a tough decision regarding Mikko Rantanen. They must choose between keeping him for a potential Stanley Cup run—risking losing him in free agency next summer if he doesn’t sign an extension—or trading him now to avoid a repeat of last summer’s scenario when the franchise lost key talent for nothing.
If Carolina decides to move Rantanen, he would be an attractive rental option for contenders. With the Hurricanes retaining half of his already-reduced salary, an acquiring team would only need to absorb a $2.3 million cap hit. “The Hurricanes have three retention slots available. If they flip Rantanen, it’s just over $2.3 million—any team could make that work,” said Elliotte Friedman on Friday’s 32 Thoughts podcast.
Friedman identified the Dallas Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vegas Golden Knights, and Winnipeg Jets as potential landing spots. With these teams reportedly waiting on Carolina’s decision, the pressure is now on Rantanen to respond to the nine-figure offer presented to his camp.
“Teams are holding onto assets in case Rantanen becomes available,” Friedman added on Saturday. “But that won’t last forever. If the deadline draws too close without movement, buyers could turn their attention elsewhere.”
The Hurricanes acquired 28-year-old Mikko Rantanen in a three-team blockbuster trade with the Colorado Avalanche and Chicago Blackhawks. However, the forward has had difficulty finding his footing in Carolina, recording only three points in seven games.
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