“He didn't like it here”: Hurricanes' head coach reveals Mikko Rantanen’s city preferences played key role in failed Carolina extension

Rod Brind’Amour recently addressed Mikko Rantanen’s brief time with the Carolina Hurricanes, revealing that Rantanen never intended to stay. The situation raised questions about the team’s decision-making and highlighted the importance of understanding player preferences before making major trades.

Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour recently addressed Mikko Rantanen's short-lived time with the team. After being acquired from the Colorado Avalanche in January 2025, Rantanen made it clear that Carolina was not one of the teams he wanted to play for. Brind’Amour revealed that Rantanen told him directly that he had a shortlist of four teams he’d consider, and the Hurricanes weren’t among them.

“When (Rantanen) showed up he said ‘there’s 4 teams I’ll go play for, and you’re not one of them,'” Brind’Amour revealed about his first interactions with Rantanen, via The Adam Gold Show. “There hasn’t been one guy that’s left because they didn’t like it here, except for Mikko [Rantanen]. He didn’t like it here. There was 28 other teams he wasn’t going to.”
“I appreciate him letting us know that, we probably should’ve known before we made the deal. Maybe that changes how we go about things” Brind’Amour revealed.
Brind’Amour openly questioned whether the Hurricanes should have known Rantanen’s reluctance before making the trade. He compared it to Jake Guentzel’s situation, stating that Guentzel would have stayed if offered a contract, but the team chose not to—implying frustration with the organization's decisions.
Despite the pressure of the trade deadline, the Hurricanes secured a strong return for Rantanen. They received forward Logan Stankoven, two conditional first-round picks (2026 and 2028), plus third-round picks in 2026 and 2027.
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In the end, while the Hurricanes lost a top talent in Rantanen, they managed to secure valuable assets for the future. The situation highlighted the importance of understanding player preferences before making major moves, ensuring better long-term decisions for the franchise.