Despite being a fan favorite and a key part of the Avalanche's recent success, the salary-cap reality forced their hand.

According to NHL insider Andy Strickland, the Edmonton Oilers are among the favourites to sign star forward Mikko Rantanen if he leaves the Carolina Hurricanes in free agency.

The word “blockbuster” gets thrown around a little too often in today’s NHL, often for trades unworthy of the term, in the same way that anything might feel like a five-star meal to a starving man. But the deal that dropped on Friday night? That one deserves the title, no questions asked.

Laughlin said that he had predicted that Rantanen, a UFA after this season, would either sign with the Anaheim Ducks or the Columbus Blue Jackets. That's right, your Columbus Blue Jackets.

Here are three blockbuster Avalanche trade targets in the wake of the stunning Mikko Rantanen trade with the Hurricanes.

Mikko Rantanen was dealt to the Hurricanes for Martin Necas, Jack Drury and two draft picks. Follow this tracker for the latest NHL news.

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.

Josh Inglis' NHL player props for Tuesday, January 28 are eyeing Mikko Rantanen, Jiri Kulich, and a Winnipeg Jets stack.

The Blackhawks could expedite their painstaking rebuilding process and be significant players in free agency this summer.

Welcome to NHL trade deadline season. The blockbuster trade of Mikko Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes surprised the hockey world Friday evening and has big takeaways.

The NHL's sixth-leading scorer heads to Carolina, while Martin Necas, Jack Drury, and picks head to Colorado, with Chicago also involved in the deal.