Carolina Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky is explaining his reasons for pushing for Mikko Rantanen, in a trade with the Colorado Avalanche. Carolina engaged in a trade with the Avalanche, as well as Chicago on Friday. The end result is that Rantanen is now a Hurricane.

The trade is a stunning midseason swap of point-per-game players in their primes, an anomaly in the NHL trade market in the salary-cap era.

The Colorado Avalanche has traded Mikko Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes, according to multiple reports. Rantanen is in the final year of his contract and can be an unrestricted free agent in July. He leads the Avs with 25 goals and has 64 points, which was sixth in the NHL entering Friday night’s games.

The trade also features Martin Necas, a 2025 second-round pick and a 2026 fourth-round pick heading to Colorado, while Mikko Rantanen and Taylor Hall move to Carolina and Chicago retains 50 percent of Rantanen's salary and receives a 2025 third-round pick.

Drury’s uncle is Chris Drury, who spent four seasons with the Avalanche (1998-02), was a member of the 2001 Stanley Cup championship team and is the current General Manager of the New York Rangers.

ELMONT, N.Y. -- Mikko Rantanen and Taylor Hall each made his debut for the Carolina Hurricanes in a 3-2 overtime loss to the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on Saturday.

The Carolina Hurricanes will take on the New York Islanders (19-20-7) tonight with what will be a very new looking lineup. The Canes made a huge splash last night, landing both Mikko Rantanen and Taylor Hall for Martin Necas and Jack Drury in a three-team trade.

The deal sees Mikko Rantanen and Taylor Hall go to Carolina and Martin Necas, Jack Drury and draft picks head to Colorado. Chicago gets its own 2025 third-round pick back and takes on half of Rantanen's $9.

The Avalanche have pulled off a stunner. Mikko Rantanen is heading to the Carolina Hurricanes in a stunning and complex Friday night deal also involving the Chicago Blackhawks.