Hurricanes superstar Mikko Rantanen opened up about playing with Sebastian Aho for the first time in a long while after his trade.

Mikko Rantanen's trade from the Colorado Avalanche to the Carolina Hurricanes shocked the NHL world on Saturday, but it didn't take him long to fit in with his new team.

In an interview, Mikko Rantanen revealed his reaction a day after the Colorado Avalanche traded him to the Carolina Hurricanes. On Friday, the Carolina Hurricanes and the Colorado Avalanche surprised the whole National Hockey League when they agreed on the terms of a trade involving the Finnish superstar Mikko Rantanen.

That was the only thing that felt familiar Monday morning at the New York Islanders‘ arena. RELATED: Avs trade Mikko Rantanen: How national media graded the move Rantanen was dressed all in red.

ELMONT, N.Y. -- Mikko Rantanen and Taylor Hall each made his debut for the Carolina Hurricanes in a 3-2 overtime loss to the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on Saturday.

For one, Brind’Amour is pairing his two best players by putting them on a line together. Aho has led the Hurricanes in scoring in six of the last seven seasons, and Rantanen was a superstar in Colorado, logging more minutes than any forward in the league since the start of the 2021-22 season.

New York Islanders center Mathew Barzal (13 ... Images Fewer than 24 hours after learning they were changing teams, Mikko Rantanen and Taylor Hall looked every bit the part of Carolina Hurricanes.

As much as the Colorado Avalanche would've liked to cap off this whirlwind of a road trip on a positive note, they failed to do so. The team, which looks a little different having replaced Mikko Rantanen with Martin Necas and Jack Drury,

Sporting a new number (#98) after conceding #96 to Mikko Rantanen, Jack Roslovic scored the Canes' first goal and snapped a 12-game goal drought. His first tally of 2025 was his 18th of the campaign, bringing him into a tie with Seth Jarvis for the lead in goals scored with the Canes this season.

With Rantanen now in Carolina, LeBrun noted the Hurricanes have the "key" advantage of offering an eight-year extension instead of just a seven-year deal, although he also noted that Rantanen will most probably demand $14-plus million.

Brock Nelson scored 2:03 into overtime and the New York Islanders rallied to beat the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 on Saturday night.