After participating in the 4 Nations, Rantanen is facing questions about his future and adjusting to his new surroundings.

With the March 7 trade deadline less than two weeks away, Carolina has to decide whether to keep Rantanen for a Stanley Cup run risking losing him next summer if he doesn't extend his contract, or flip him for assets now to avoid that potential worst-case scenario as it happened to the franchise last summer.

The Carolina Hurricanes pulled off a major mid season trade during the 2024-25 National Hockey League regular season, prying pending free agent Mikko Rantanen away from the Colorado Avalanche in the hopes of adding a true bonafide superstar to their roster.