Report: Avalanche trading Rantanen to Hurricanes in 3-way deal

The Colorado Avalanche are in the process of trading superstar winger Mikko Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes in a blockbuster three-way deal, reports Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli.

Hurricanes forwards Martin Necas and Jesperi Kotkaniemi are expected to be part of the package heading back to the Avalanche, Seravalli adds.

Carolina is also landing Taylor Hall from the Chicago Blackhawks as a portion of the swap, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

Rantanen and Hall are pending unrestricted free agents. Necas is signed through next season with a $6.5-million cap hit, while Kotkaniemi is locked up until 2030 at $4.82 million annually.

It was reported last week that the Avalanche and Rantanen were in a contract stalemate. Rantanen is reportedly seeking a deal in the range of Leon Draisaitl's $14-million average annual value, while Colorado was hoping he'd take a number closer to Nathan MacKinnon's $12.6-million cap hit.

Rantanen ranks sixth in the NHL with 64 points in 49 games this season. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound power forward is coming off back-to-back 100-point campaigns and was an integral piece of Colorado's 2022 Stanley Cup victory. While primarily a winger, he's dabbled at center over the years. The 28-year-old is still firmly in the prime of his career.

The Avalanche are contenders again this season. They currently sit in the Western Conference's first wild-card spot, though they're just two points back of second in the Central Division.

Necas, 26 years old and primarily a winger, is in the midst of his best season with 55 points through 49 contests. The 24-year-old Kotkaniemi has tallied 10 goals and 13 assists in 49 appearances while mainly serving as Carolina's third-line center.

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