With Rantanen now in Carolina, LeBrun noted the Hurricanes have the "key" advantage of offering an eight-year extension instead of just a seven-year deal, although he also noted that Rantanen will most probably demand $14-plus million.

New Carolina Hurricanes winger Mikko Rantanen is giving his two cents about being traded from the Colorado Avalanche.

Rantanen can become an unrestricted free agent July 1. He was available because the Avalanche couldn’t sign him to a long-term contract. Tulsky said the Hurricanes wanted to acquire Rantanen as long as possible before the NHL Trade Deadline on March 7 and have had only preliminary discussions with his camp.