One of the biggest blockbuster trades in NHL history saw Martin Necas and Mikko Rantanen, two of the games top forwards, find their way to new teams. Both players have played well since then, but Carolina is stuck in an interesting situation that I think is worth looking into. Rantanen has wanted a contract among the biggest in the league for a long time. Colorado more than likely traded him for that reason. The question now is whether or not Carolina will be able to sign him. Here are a few things that could happen:
Could Rantanen be traded again?
As crazy as it sounds, it could happen and it would make a lot of sense. The rumor mill continues to roll, with some suggesting that Rananten could be moved again before the deadline if Carolina is unable to come to an agreement with him on a long term deal. That could be a possibility, considering that Rantanen is looking for a contract that would make him the highest paid player in the league, even over Connor McDavid, who currently makes $12.5 million a year. "Moose" currently makes $9.5 a year. Rantanen is an elite player, a winger that every team would dream of having on their roster. But, over $13 million a year may be too big for a team to swallow, including Carolina.
Rantanen signs a short-term deal
This to me, is the most likely option. The Hurricanes don't exactly have a ton of cap space to sign Rantanen to a mega deal, especially if they want to continue to compete for a Stanley Cup for the rest of this season and onward. Rantanen is 28 years old, so he still has plenty of hockey left in front of him. If the money isn't right, Rantanen could be open to taking a one or two-year deal with slightly less per year to prove that he can take any team to the next level. That would also work for Carolina, because it would give them a chance at the Stanley Cup that the team has been eyeing for the last two to three years.
Rantanen signs long-term deal to stay in Carolina
Carolina will definitely be looking for this to be the option that Rantanen picks. The Hurricanes would get a franchise player that could take the rest of their strong core to the next level. Carolina has plenty of other young talent, like Sebastain Aho and Andrei Svechnikov. Aho and Svechnikov are great players, but they aren't Rantanen. Even if it means losing one or both in the future, Rantanen is a game-changer. If Carolina could keep both while signing Rantanen? The Hurricanes would be a powerhouse in the Eastern Conference for years to come.
The future is still murky for Rantanen and the Hurricanes, but an answer could come sooner rather than later. In terms of what I think will happen? Rantanen and Carolina both most likely want to come to a long-term agreement, but I'm not sure if Carolina will be able to match the money amount Rantanen is asking for. If not, a short-term deal is more likely, as Carolina wants to keep the primary asset they received in a big trade where they gave up a lot, and Rantanen wants to stay somewhere that can compete for the Stanley Cup.