The last few days (more so weeks) for the Hurricanes and us, the fans, have been crazy. If it weren’t for the Bruins dumping their captain to the team that ended their playoffs two years in a row, we would still be the biggest story of the trade deadline. As a fan, it has been draining listening to the uninformed criticism. Are we a better team than we were at the start of the year? Perhaps not. Did we get a lot out of the cards we were dealt? I think so. So, for the uninitiated and the uninformed—I’m looking at the podcasters and talking heads in the media—let’s revisit how this all unfolded.

This whole saga began long before the Rantanen trade back in the summer, before the draft even. Necas had just wrapped up his first bridge deal following his entry-level contract. He started to look for options to move into a setting where he felt he was a better fit. The organization began to explore options with rumored dance partners including Buffalo, New Jersey, Winnipeg, and Columbus. The Hurricanes were unable to reach an agreeable trade with any of the teams because Necas would not sign a contract more than two years. Because of this, a two-year deal was struck with the Hurricanes. I said from the day he signed that contract with zero no-trade protection that the Canes would move him. He is too valuable of a player to let walk for free. What was clear is that Necas wanted to get to unrestricted free agency to realize his market value and move on, for free, from the organization.

Drury, who was also included in the Rantanen trade, had a similar offseason, with the now 25-year-old reaching a two-year extension only after an arbitration date had been set (never a sign that the player and organization are seeing eye to eye on negotiations).

The Trade
On Friday, January 24th, the Hurricanes and Avalanche drew first blood. Martin Necas, Jack Drury, and two draft picks were sent to the Mile High City in exchange for pending free agent Mikko Rantanen (we’re going to ignore the cucking role that the Chicago Blackhawks played in the trade). The hopes were high among the Canes fanbase as the Finnish forward would be reunited with his childhood friend and team assistant captain, Sebastian Aho. As it turned out, the most surprised and shocked person in the hockey world was Rantanen himself.

In a trade deadline recap episode of the 32 Thoughts Podcast (hosted by Dom, Kyle…and the other guy that breaks news on X…whatever his name is), Elliotte Friedman indicated that preliminary conversations between Rantanen’s camp and Hurricanes management occurred before the trade but seemed to be dismissed as a pressure tactic. The apparent optimism of Tulsky and the team to sign Rantanen long term was iced by the shock that the player felt he was traded in the first place.

In the weeks that followed, the Canes struggled, going just 2-5 in the month of February. Rantanen seemed to struggle to cope with the change in scenery and system, totaling just 6 points in the 13 games since the trade. The Hurricanes tried to make the situation better with a compelling long-term extension, rumored to be in the neighborhood of 8 years averaging ~$12.5M per year. Despite the offer, it became clear that the fit was not right.

As the trade deadline approached, the rumors began to swirl about Tulsky and the often different-thinking front office of the Hurricanes looking to flip Rantanen again as the likelihood of extending him seemed grim. With the deadline hours away, the Hurricanes and Dallas Stars worked out a trade and extension to move Rantanen to the now Dončić-less city with an 8-year extension in exchange for 22-year-old Canadian Logan Stankoven and 4 picks, including 2 first-round picks.

Was the move for Rantanen worth it?
If you’re a Hurricanes fan who’s tired of the endless slander from the Spittin’ Chiclets podcasts with Biz and Whit reminding us that we don’t have a superstar player who can become a game-breaker in the playoffs, then the gamble was worth it. It is so rare for top players to become free agents that the only chance is through some sort of trade. For Carolina to roll the dice, moving two players who indicated that they want a change in scenery and a couple of picks for a chance to sign one of the top-performing players in the league, the gamble was worth it. It’s also tough that Biz has ripped on Carolina for not having a superstar and then gets on tv to slander the Canes for trading Necas and refers to him as a “superstar”. Rich… but we still love you Biz. I think Necas’ recent success speaks to how incredible MacKinnon is!

At the end of the day, Carolina moved Necas, Drury, and 2nd and 4th round picks for Stankoven, two 1sts, and two 3rds. If we had waited until next year’s deadline to move Necas, it would have likely been for a conditional 2nd or something like that.

What does this mean for the Canes moving forward?
I’m clearly not a GM. I’m just a fan who loves the Canes. Tulsky discussed in his press conference how the organization believed this was a risk worth taking, and I completely agree. Any time you can make a move for a top player without mortgaging the future of the franchise, it’s worth going for it. If we had moved first-round picks and/or top prospects for Rantanen, the stakes would have been a lot higher, and the end result may not have been worth it.

Are the Hurricanes a better team today than we were at the start of the season? Maybe not. Will we be a better team moving forward because of the gamble? Likely yes. Should the fans keep their trust in Tulsky and the organization to keep building the roster and setting up the players for success in the future? In my opinion, absolutely.

As I’m sure the Finns left would say, “koirat haukkuu, karavaani kulkee.”

I’m excited for this playoff run and to hear the roar of the Lenovo Center. Let’s go Canes!

_{*Photos featured not owned by this blog. Sources: Essentially Sports, Canes Country, and Walt Ruff via X}