On Friday night, the Blackhawks raised some eyebrows when they got involved in a blockbuster trade that sent Mikko Rantanen to Carolina in exchange for Martin Necas. Chicago got rid of Taylor Hall, improving their position in this summer’s draft in the process. While a select few fans were outraged, the deal allowed Chicago to use its space under the cap to create more assets – a win all around, even if just a small one.
Friday’s trade didn’t appear to matter much for the Blackhawks, but it could have big implications as they look to make a splash this summer. After the deal went down, insider Elliotte Friedman hinted that there could be more than meets the eye.
“The Blackhawks brokered this deal. If Rantanen does hit the market this summer, it wouldn’t be a stunner to see them make a run at him.”
- Elliotte Friedman
Is that a stretch? Maybe not. It’s no secret that the Blackhawks are working to build back up, and the next stage in doing so is to bring in another top talent. It certainly doesn’t hurt that many feel Chicago’s biggest issue is that the team lacks a second true star. I’ve written about Rantanen as a potential acquisition before, and it’s time to have the conversation again.
It isn’t out of the question that the Blackhawks took the possibility into consideration when brokering Friday’s deal. Rantanen was drafted by the Avalanche in 2015 and won a Stanley Cup there, so he was pretty fond of the organization, which could have been a factor in his decision in free agency this summer. Now that he’s in Carolina, he’ll at least test the open market, giving Chicago a shot at him.
When the Blackhawks do make a pass at Rantanen, they’ll be armed with plenty of cap space and a promise that they’ll be competing for Stanley Cups in the next few seasons. Chicago already has over $5 million in space, plus the millions that they’ll save when contracts like Alec Martinez’s expire. Rantanen’s asking price could be as high as $14 million, but that’s a fee the Blackhawks can easily manage. With the salary cap expected to be raised by as much as $8 million, that amount won’t hurt them too much. Plus, any GM in Kyle Davidson’s shoes would be more than happy to pay $14 million for a 28-year-old superstar who has scored more than 100 points in each of the past two seasons and is headed for a similar result.
Does this deal mean the Blackhawks are guaranteed to get Rantanen? No. They sign his paychecks for now, but he could be an afterthought by the time next season starts. But the trade gives Chicago a chance it might not have had before, and that already makes it an even bigger win than anyone thought.
