As we start moving away from the shock of the blockbuster three-team trade a few weeks ago, it's time to look at the next big hurdle to clear. The talking point surrounding the trade was Mikko Rantanen's pending free agent status this offseason. With Colorado unable to meet his demands, a trade was made, putting the ball in the Carolina Hurricanes' court.
Let's get the easy part out of the way. Given the state of next season's roster, the Carolina Hurricanes can likely accommodate Rantanen's current asking price and the cap increase set for next season. The reports are that Rantanen is seeking somewhere in the ballpark of $14 million per year, making him one of the highest-paid players in the league.
The Canes have a lot of names hitting free agency this summer. On defense, Brent Burns and Dmitry Orlov are both UFAs. Replacing them internally should be a breeze with Alexander Nikishin and Scott Morrow stepping into their spots. In the net, Frederik Andersen is also a UFA, though I'd imagine the group could get a veteran for cheap on the open market to back up Pyotr Kochetkov.
Up front, there are a few more pending free agents, but the core of the Hurricanes remains intact with Aho, Svechnikov, and Jarvis all signed long term, and Staal, Martinook, Kotkaniemi, Carrier, and Blake also under contract. For the remaining spots, we could see a mixture of current guys being extended, like Eric Robinson, and prospects getting their shot, like Bradly Nadeau, Ryan Suzuki, or Felix Unger Sorum.
For this deal to get done, I'm less concerned about the Canes' side. The big question left to answer is whether Mikko Rantanen sees himself in Raleigh long term. At 28 years old, he'd be committing to Raleigh for another six to eight years, eating up a major chunk of the remainder of his career. That's a large ask for a highly valued player who could get a lot of money on the open market.
It's not a decision that Rantanen should take lightly. While it's easy to say that we would love for him remain a Hurricane, he might think it's not the best spot for him, which is completely fine. It certainly won't be for a lack of trying on the fans' front. The way the Caniacs have embraced Rantanen since the trade has been awesome to see. I wonder if he could see the response online from the fans to the trade news.
Eric Tulsky and the rest of the organization needs to do everything in their power to make sure Mikko Rantanen remains a Carolina Hurricane. There is no amount too much when talking about one of the best players in the league. Imagine a core with Rantanen, Aho, Svechnikov, Jarvis, and Slavin. Paired with excellent drafting and asset management, it could prolong the Canes' Stanley Cup window for several more years.