The Carolina Hurricanes' acquisition of Mikko Rantanen has been met with significant scrutiny following the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline. Coach Rod Brind’Amour admitted that Rantanen expressed his disinterest in joining Carolina, stating he had specified teams he would prefer to play for, excluding the Hurricanes. This raised questions about the due diligence performed during the trade negotiations. General Manager Eric Tulsky noted that serious discussions about the trade began just weeks before it was finalized, suggesting inadequate planning.

After being traded to the Hurricanes from the Colorado Avalanche, Rantanen's fit in Carolina's system was questionable. Tulsky had hoped that the presence of his Finnish teammate Sebastian Aho would ease the transition, but it became clear that Rantanen was not comfortable. Ultimately, he was traded to the Dallas Stars for a package that included two first-round picks and Logan Stankoven, indicating a significant difference in the perceived value and the expectations from the trade.