Carolina Hurricanes forward Mikko Rantanen is on track to hit free agency on July 1 unless he agrees to a contract extension beforehand. As one of the league’s top pending free agents, several teams are positioning themselves to make significant roster adjustments to meet his contract demands following his six-year, $55.5 million deal.
According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, speaking on NHL Network Radio, the New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs are among the top contenders expected to aggressively pursue Rantanen. “Teams will make room for this guy,” Friedman said. “If they have a feeling that he’s going to come to them—the New York Rangers, Toronto—it won’t just be the teams with a lot of cap room. It’ll be teams saying, ‘OK, if I have to move a mountain to get Mikko Rantanen, we’re going to try to do it.’”
While rebuilding teams like the Chicago Blackhawks and Anaheim Ducks have the financial flexibility to offer Rantanen a massive contract, contending franchises such as the Rangers and Maple Leafs may need to restructure their rosters to fit him in. However, at 28 years old and in his prime, Rantanen may prioritize joining a championship-ready team over simply securing the largest contract.
For Toronto, cap space is already a concern as they must make key decisions regarding the future of Mitch Marner and John Tavares, who each earn close to $11 million annually. Meanwhile, the Rangers have already begun reshuffling their roster, having traded former captain Jacob Trouba last December and acquiring J.T. Miller before the trade deadline.
Carolina initially acquired Rantanen from Colorado in a major trade earlier this season, but if no extension is reached before the March 7 trade deadline, the Hurricanes may explore moving him again. Losing Rantanen without compensation would be a significant blow for Carolina, especially after they suffered a similar fate last year when they traded for Jake Guentzel at the deadline, only for him to sign elsewhere in free agency.