The Colorado Avalanche has bounced back from a tumultuous trade six weeks ago, with players like Martin Necas and Jack Drury thriving in their new roles. The team is now riding a three-game winning streak into Friday night’s matchup against the Sharks.
Rantanen, traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for Jake Guentzel, still hasn’t signed a contract extension. The NHL’s biggest in-season trade in two decades has sparked intense speculation about his future with the Hurricanes. Despite the uncertainty, Necas and Drury seem to be adjusting well to their new surroundings.
Necas has four goals and 13 points in 13 games for the Avalanche, playing mostly alongside Nathan MacKinnon. Drury has also had a solid start, scoring four goals while being described as “rock solid” by his coach Jared Bednar.
The situation is complicated by Rantanen’s impending free agency on July 1. However, with only nine days of game time in Carolina so far, it’s unclear how much longer he’ll stay with the team. Despite this, both Necas and Drury seem to be taking the uncertainty in stride.
“It’s been good,” Drury said. “I love the system here. I love playing for the coaches, and it’s a great team.” For his part, Rantanen has spent relatively little time in Carolina without a game to play, leaving him plenty of time to make a decision that will affect his future.
The two teams seem to be at different stages, with the Avalanche enjoying a three-game winning streak and the Hurricanes having recently broken out of a five-game losing streak. While Rantanen’s stats have been impressive, it remains to be seen how long he’ll stay in Carolina.
Source: https://www.denverpost.com/2025/03/06/avalanche-rantanen-hurricanes-trade-necas-drury