In a three-team blockbuster NHL trade, the Carolina Hurricanes added two key forwards from Colorado and Chicago.

Welcome to Scott Wheeler’s 2025 rankings of every NHL organization’s prospects. You can find the complete ranking and more information on the project and its criteria here, as we count down daily from No. 32 to No. 1. The series, which includes in-depth evaluations and insight from sources on nearly 500 prospects, runs from Jan. 8 to Feb. 7.

Colorado Avalanche star Mikko Rantanen was reportedly acquired by the Carolina Hurricanes in a three-team trade on Friday night. Chicago Blackhawks

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.

Rantanen is one of the NHL’s top playoff performers; he ranks fourth among active players in career playoff points per game (1.25) behind Edmonton Oilers forwards Connor McDavid (1.58), Leon Draisaitl (1.46) and his now former teammate MacKinnon (1.30) and helped Colorado win the Stanley Cup in 2022.

Blake and Bryce Montgomery say they look forward to the day when they both reach the NHL. In the meantime, Bryce will continue to work his way through the minor leagues and Blake will play for the University of Wisconsin next season, where he’ll focus on getting bigger and stronger in preparation for the rigors of pro hockey.

The Hurricanes wasted no time making their major cup-chasing move. Despite the NHL Trade deadline being over a month away, Carolina added the most-significant firepower imaginable by acquiring Mikko Rantanen from the Colorado Avalanche in a complicated three-way trade involving the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Carolina Hurricanes took a swing for the fences Friday night by acquiring high-scoring forward Mikko Rantanen from the Colorado

According to one NHL insider, the Bruins remain as a "dark horse" for Vancouver Canucks top-line center J.T. Miller.

Colorado parted with Rantanen in a three-team deal on Friday, shipping him off to Carolina while acquiring forwards Martin Necas and Jack Drury and two draft picks.

Now it is on Hurricanes GM Eric Tulsky to re-sign Rantanen. That will be the number one priority for the Canes heading into the March 7th deadline. Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet was on NHL Network discussing the Mikko Rantanen trade and said it was on Carolina to get a deal done now.