The Detroit Red Wings are eager to snap their playoff drought, and a potential blockbuster trade could give them the star power needed to make a serious push.
A user on PuckPedia’s PuckGM tool recently proposed a trade scenario that would send star forward Mikko Rantanen from the Carolina Hurricanes to Detroit.
Proposed Trade:
Red Wings receive:
- Mikko Rantanen
Hurricanes receive:
- J.T. Compher ($2.6 million salary retained)
- Patrick Kane
- 2025 first-round pick
- 2026 first-round pick
If this hypothetical deal were to happen, Detroit would acquire a dynamic scorer in Rantanen, who has been a consistent offensive force in the NHL. Currently in the final year of his six-year, $55.5 million contract, Rantanen has tallied 26 goals and 40 assists for 66 points in 55 games this season between the Hurricanes and the Colorado Avalanche. Adding him to the Red Wings’ lineup would give them a major offensive boost, likely slotting him onto the top line.
Carolina, meanwhile, would receive a significant haul in return. The deal would include two first-round picks, as well as veteran forwards Compher and Kane. Compher, in the second year of his five-year, $25.5 million contract, has been a reliable two-way center, posting 21 points in 49 games this season. Kane, a future Hall of Famer, signed a one-year, $4 million deal with Detroit and has put up 31 points in 45 games. His addition would add an experienced offensive presence to Carolina’s roster.
Could Carolina Move Rantanen Again?
The Hurricanes recently pulled off a major trade to acquire Rantanen, but with the March 7 trade deadline approaching, there’s speculation they could flip him if an extension isn’t reached. NHL insider Frank Seravalli recently suggested that if Carolina believes Rantanen won’t re-sign, they may explore another deal.
“If this gets closer to March 7, and he’s unsigned and they have a feeling he’s not going to sign,” Seravalli said on Daily Faceoff, “I wouldn’t be shocked. They’ve got an owner just crazy enough to turn around and say let’s see what we can get back what we paid, if not more.”
Rantanen has struggled to find his rhythm in Carolina, recording just one goal and one assist in six games. If the Hurricanes don’t see him as a long-term fit, they may decide to capitalize on his value while they still can.
Red Wings Focused on Playoff Push
Currently holding onto a playoff spot, the Red Wings have been surging since making a coaching change earlier in the season. After a sluggish start, Detroit replaced Derek Lalonde with Todd McLellan, and the team has responded with a 15-5-1 record under his leadership.
Despite their success, McLellan believes there’s still room for improvement.
“We can take some time to breathe,” McLellan said. “As a staff, we’ll review where we’ve been and what we need to work on. Some of the things we saw are important. Game-management skills are really hard to work on in practice because there is no score or fatigue and not a lot of line-matching. It’s hard to recreate stressful situations, so game-management skills just have to keep coming through video and experience. For us to move forward, those are going to have to improve.”
With a 28-22-5 record, Detroit currently holds the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. Whether or not they make a major move before the deadline remains to be seen, but the possibility of adding Rantanen could be a game-changer in their playoff pursuit.
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