The Detroit Red Wings are aiming to snap their playoff drought, and one trade proposal envisions them landing a star player in a blockbuster deal.
Using PuckPedia’s PuckGM tool, which allows users to craft their own trades, one fan suggested a scenario where the Red Wings acquire Mikko Rantanen from the Carolina Hurricanes.
Red Wings acquire: Mikko Rantanen
Hurricanes acquire:
J.T. Compher ($2.6 million retained)
Patrick Kane
2025 first-round pick
2026 first-round pick
The proposed trade would be a blockbuster move for Detroit, as they would land Mikko Rantanen from Carolina in exchange for two first-round picks and two NHL players. While the Hurricanes recently acquired Rantanen, his name has resurfaced in trade rumors, especially if the team fails to sign him before the March 7 trade deadline.
Rantanen, in the final year of his six-year, $55.5 million contract, would provide a major boost to the Red Wings’ lineup, likely slotting into the top line as they push to end their playoff drought. Between Carolina and Colorado this season, the star forward has tallied 26 goals and 40 assists, totaling 66 points in 55 games.
In return, Detroit would send its first-round picks for the next two years, a significant part of the deal. The package would also include J.T. Compher, who is in the second season of his five-year, $25.5 million contract. Compher could fill a third-line center role in Carolina, having recorded six goals and 15 assists for 21 points in 49 games this season.
Additionally, veteran forward Patrick Kane, a future Hall of Famer, would be part of the trade, adding offensive depth to the Hurricanes. Kane, who signed a one-year, $4 million deal with Detroit, has contributed 12 goals and 19 assists for 31 points in 45 games this season.
Hurricanes Could Trade Rantanen Again
Carolina made a blockbuster move to acquire Mikko Rantanen, but with his pending free agency, he could be on the move again.
NHL insider Frank Seravalli believes the Hurricanes might flip Rantanen before the March 7 trade deadline.
“If this gets closer to March 7, and he’s unsigned and they have a feeling he’s not going to sign,” Seravalli said on DailyFaceoff, “I wouldn’t be shocked. They’ve got an owner just crazy enough to turn around and say let’s see what we can get back, if not more.”
So far, Rantanen has struggled to find his footing in Carolina, recording just one goal and one assist in six games with the Hurricanes.
Red Wings Coach Focused on Improvements
Detroit is currently clinging to a playoff spot as they push to end their postseason drought.
After a slow start to the season, the Red Wings fired head coach Derek Lalonde and brought in Todd McLellan. Since McLellan took over, the team has been on an impressive run, going 15-5-1. However, McLellan believes there’s still room for improvement.
“We can take some time to breathe,” McLellan said. “As a staff, we’ll review where we’ve been and what we need to work on. Some of the things we saw are important. Game-management skills are really hard to work on in practice because there is no score or fatigue and not a lot of line-matching. It’s hard to recreate stressful situations, so game-management skills just have to keep coming through video and experience. For us to move forward, those are going to have to improve.”
Detroit currently holds a 28-22-5 record and sits in the final Wild Card spot.
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