The Dallas Stars have acquired forward Mikko Rantanen from the Carolina Hurricanes. In return, Carolina is getting Logan Stankoven, two first-round draft picks, and two future third-round picks.
Dallas completed the biggest trade of the NHL season just hours before the trade deadline. Teams were allowed to complete transactions until 2 p.m. Friday.
Rantanen had previously informed the Hurricanes that he was unprepared to commit to an extension with the franchise, resulting in the Stars stepping in and making him an offer he could not refuse, as reported by ESPN.
Dallas and Carolina agreed to the terms of the trade on Thursday, with the expectation that it would be completed on Friday. Dallas was allowed to discuss a contract extension with Rantanen before the trade was pushed through.
The two sides quickly came to an agreement on an eight-year extension worth $96 million that will keep the forward in Dallas for the foreseeable future, according to The Athletic.
Rantanen has proven to be one of the best forwards in the entire NHL with 70 points this season, the 11th in the league and the most of any player on the Stars’ roster.
This trade will also bring a proven playoff performer to Dallas, as Rantanen has a career average of 1.25 points per game in the playoffs and helped lead the Colorado Avalanche to the Stanley Cup in 2022, per The Athletic.
Dallas has opted to go all-in for the next few years, with the team boasting an impressive record in the current season, sitting in second place in the Western Conference with a record of 41-19-2.
The Stars immediately saw an improvement in their odds of winning the Stanley Cup. The team now sits at just +650 on ESPN Bet, which is tied with the Edmonton Oilers for the best odds in the league.
Dallas is also hoping to welcome multiple players back from injury to finish the season as the team looks to make another deep run in the postseason. Expectations are even higher now that the team has acquired one of the best forwards in the league.
Tyler Seguin is potentially making a return to the ice just before the playoffs begin in April, with the center recently beginning to skate again following his surgery in December.
Defenseman Miro Heiskanen was also expected to return to the team just before the playoffs, but this return may be delayed following the decision to place him on the long-term injured reserve, per RotoWire.