The Mikko Rantanen trade had one big loser: The Rangers.
The New York Rangers has a rough night on Tuesday. Not only did the team fall further back in the Metropolitan Division standings with a 4-0 loss to the Hurricanes at home, but they also helped validate every part of the blockbuster Mikko Rantanen trade.
The #NYR have the distinction of allowing the first post-trade point to everyone in the Mikko Rantanen blockbuster.
Rantanen and Taylor Hall each have assists tonight, their first points as Hurricanes. Jack Drury scored against NY on Sunday, and Martin Nečas had two assists.
— Peter Baugh (@Peter_Baugh) January 29, 2025
The trade saw superstar forward Mikko Rantanen get dealt to the Hurricanes in exchange for Martis Necas, Jack Drury, and draft picks — now all three players have thrived against the Rangers.
Drury scored on Sunday, while Necas added two assists for the Colorado Avalanche in their 5-4 win. Then on Tuesday it was Rantanen’s turn, as he delivered a picture-perfect pass to Andrei Svechnikov that was slotted home.
First point as a member of the @Canes for Mikko Rantanen! pic.twitter.com/N3xRtcmfWF
— NHL (@NHL) January 29, 2025
It’s early days, but this is looking like one of those trades that is going to benefit everyone. The Avalanche get the mid-line depth they’ve been looking for, with Necas being a brilliant complement to their stars, while the Hurricanes got a player talented enough to take pressure off Sebastian Aho and Svechnikov on the first line.
The only loser is the Rangers, who have now lost two in a row and find themselves 5th in the Metropolitan Division standings.
