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."

According to NHL insider Andy Strickland, the Edmonton Oilers are among the favourites to sign star forward Mikko Rantanen if he leaves the Carolina Hurricanes in free agency.

Will he re-sign in Carolina after this season -- and if not, where else? And what will other contenders do to keep pace ahead of the March 7 deadline?

Carolina can re-sign Rantanen and maintain a formidable supporting cast around him, which might have been tough for Colorado.

Here are three blockbuster Avalanche trade targets in the wake of the stunning Mikko Rantanen trade with the Hurricanes.

Chris MacFarland pointed to Rantanen’s pending free agency and the club’s desire to get deeper after three years of being short in that department as reasons for the trade. The NHL’s salary cap ceiling, which is set at $88 million this year but is expected to rise — possibly significantly — in the next couple of seasons is also a factor.

The trade sending Mikko Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes is still the talk of the hockey world. Nobody actually thought the 10-year career-long member of the Colorado Avalanche would leave his only NHL home.

Andy Strickland has been hearing that if not re-signed by Carolina, Mikko Rantanen may be headed to the Edmonton Oilers in the offseason saying there’s “a belief they can make it happen” cap wise. Rantanen also shares the same agent as Leon Draisaitl. #letsgooilers #raiseup pic.twitter.com/6w40qi1g0H

Mikko Rantanen has only been a Carolina Hurricane for a few days. Yet, that hasn't stopped analysts in the hockey world from speculating about his future.

The Carolina Hurricanes are in a very good position to take advantage of the rising salary cap.

The Hart Trophy race looks like it’ll be an interesting one this season. There is a favorite, but a couple of players you wouldn’t expect to be in the Hart race in most seasons have made their cases to be in contention because they’ve made that much of a difference for their teams.