Rantanen acknowledged the transition following 10 seasons with the Avalanche, including winning the Stanley Cup in 2022, hasn’t been easy. He has two points (one goal and one assist) in six games with Carolina after getting 64 points (25 goals and 39 assists) in 49 games with the Avalanche before the trade.

Shortly after acquiring him, there appears to at least be a small chance that the Carolina Hurricanes trade Mikko Rantanen ahead of the NHL trade deadline.

Since being acquired Jan. 24 in a shocking trade that brought him and Taylor Hall to the Hurricanes and shipped out Martin Necas, Jack Drury and draft picks, Rantanen has one goal and one assist in six games, and he’s been unable to pull Carolina’s power play out of its funk.

As if the Carolina Hurricanes haven't had enough troubles as of late, new winger Mikko Rantanen will not play this afternoon against the Utah Hockey Club as the Finn has been ruled out with a lower-body injury.

Carolina Hurricanes winger Mikko Rantanen (96) skates against the New York Islanders. Rantanen, 28, is in the final year of a six-year, $55.5 million contract and could be seeking a deal in the range of $14 million per year— comparable to Leon Draisaitl’s extension with the Edmonton Oilers.