Insiders broke trade details on Friday evening, a three-way exchange between the Colorado Avalanche, the Carolina Hurricanes, and the Chicago Blackhawks, dealing in star players, depth forwards, draft picks,

The Colorado Avalanche has traded Mikko Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes in one of the most stunning transactions in franchise history.

The general manager of the Colorado Avalanche wants fans and the NHL to know that his club remains strong, after dealing away Mikko Rantanen. The Avalanche dealt Rantanen on Friday to Carolina, as part of a three-team trade that also involved Chicago.

Facing the prospect of Colorado’s star winger Mikko Rantanen becoming an unrestricted free agent after this season, general manager Chris MacFarland felt the timing was right to deal him away and bolster the Avalanche’s roster for the future.

The Colorado Avalanche rocked the NHL after trading Mikko Rantanen to Carolina in a stunning three-team deal. Where does the trade rank in the history of Colorado sports?

Colorado Avalanche right wing Mikko Rantanen (96) celebrates with the bench after scoring against Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) during the second period of Game 3 of an NHL Stanley Cup second-round playoff series Saturday, May 11, 2024, at Ball Arena in Denver. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)

Rantanen said he thought talks with the Avs had been productive before the shocking trade to the Canes: "I didn’t know we were in a rush."

Mikko Rantanen skated to center ice at UBS Arena and a familiar sound emanated from his teammates near the bench. “Moooose.” Rantanen scooped up the puck on his stick, smoothly moved toward the goaltender and then snapped a shot off the crossbar and into the net.

Jared Bednar has been known to rely heavily on his top forwards, often overplaying the top line to the point where some nights you wouldn't know the Avalanche were even dressing 12 forwards. That was not the case in Sunday's 5-4 win over the New York Rangers.