Blockbuster trades like the one that occurred between the Colorado Avalanche and Carolina Hurricanes just over a month ago are rare in the NHL.
In a league with financial restrictions that have historically made deals like this difficult to pull off, the Avalanche parted ways with superstar right winger Mikko Rantanen amid his final season as part of a big six-year, $55-million deal signed in 2019.
The decision to trade Rantanen involved an immense amount of risk for the Avalanche. How were they going to replace the fourth-highest point-getter in the NHL over the last five seasons? Would they be able to retain strong enough assets to keep their competitive window open?
This choice raised many questions involving the team’s immediate and long-term future that seemed easily avoidable by paying Rantanen what he wanted and probably deserved.
While both parties have disputed the reason why the 28-year-old is no longer a member of the Avalanche, there’s no doubt the team was going to look weaker on paper in any trade that would lead them to part ways with a player of Rantanen’s caliber.
Now that the dust has settled, a less-than-ideal situation for the Avalanche seems to actually be leaning in their favor.
Martin Necas has thrived in Avalanche coach Jared Bednar’s offensive scheme. His speed has taken a huge load off Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar as their primary options for zone entries, while his vision and off-puck instincts makes him equally as dangerous a threat as a distributor and a finisher.
It’s too early to call this a ‘home run’ for the Avalanche, but with 13 points in 13 games for Necas, it’s gone about as well as GM Chris MacFarland could’ve asked for.
It’s also worth noting that only five of those points have come on the power play, which only proves further how seamless of a transition it has been for Necas as he adapts to this new offensive system.
If there’s any early takeaway that fans should have from this deal, it’s that the Avalanche believe in Nathan MacKinnon’s ability to elevate the players they surround him with. That shouldn’t come as a surprise, but it’s proven to work out much quicker than most would’ve anticipated.
As much as there is to love about Artturi Lehkonen’s game, there’s no denying a reason he’s scored the third-most goals in the NHL since Dec. 5 (21) is because he’s been next to one of the best playmakers in hockey. While Necas possesses a stronger skill set that allows him to be an individual play-driver, MacKinnon has and will continue to influence his offensive output in a way that few players are capable of.
As for Rantanen, it’s been an underwhelming start in Carolina. He recorded two goals and six points in his first 12 games despite starting out on the team’s top forward unit alongside Finnish countryman Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis.
A disappointing showing at the 4 Nations Face-Off also hasn’t helped Rantanen’s stock, recording just one goal in Finland’s three games. Since returning to the Hurricanes he has been demoted to the team’s second line alongside Jack Roslovic and Andrei Svechnikov.
It doesn’t help that Rantanen, who was an integral part of an Avalanche power play that ranks fifth over the last five seasons, joined a team that has struggled with the man-advantage all year.
The Hurricanes rank 24th on the power play this season and have converted just five of their 67 opportunities since Jan. 1 (7.5 percent), which ranks last in the NHL in that span.
The lack of point production should sort itself out, but there might not be enough time for the Hurricanes to be convinced they should hang on to him. With the uncertainty that Rantanen will extend his stay in Raleigh beyond July 1, rumors still swirl that GM Eric Tulsky could look to move him again in another blockbuster ahead of Friday’s NHL trade deadline.
A perennial 100-point player traded twice in six weeks? Few GMs would dare, but Tulsky has made bold moves before.
This era of Hurricanes hockey has been criticized for their lack of a true superstar and a pure goal-scoring presence, and Tulsky has done just about all you can ask for in trying to meet that need over the past few seasons.
The acquisition of Jake Guentzel at last year’s deadline was an overwhelming success until he decided to leave in the off-season. If the rumors are true, it’s understandable for Tulsky to not want to get burned again, and he should be considering all of his options as the clock ticks to 3 p.m. ET on Friday.
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