RALEIGH, NC — After being traded to the Carolina Hurricanes, Mikko Rantanen had one immediate priority: securing his jersey number.

Previously worn by Jack Roslovic, his desired No. 96 became available through a friendly agreement between the two players. Rantanen’s debut goal for the Hurricanes came in a 3-2 victory against the Chicago Blackhawks, with Roslovic providing the setup.

Rantanen commented on the play, praising Roslovic’s drop pass that facilitated his scoring opportunity. “That was a great play by Ros, the drop pass,” he remarked, adding that contributing to the team’s effort felt rewarding.

Regarding his number, Rantanen shared that it was simply a matter of reaching out to Roslovic, who was accommodating about it. “He’s a nice guy,” Rantanen noted, humorously mentioning that he promised to buy Roslovic a nice watch in return.

Besides Rantanen’s arrival from a significant three-team trade with the Chicago Blackhawks, the Hurricanes also acquired Taylor Hall, who was sidelined during the win over the Blackhawks due to illness.

The Hurricanes are optimistic that Rantanen’s scoring prowess will be a valuable asset moving forward, especially following his successful stint in Colorado where he consistently posted impressive point totals, including a career-high of 105 points during the 2022-23 season.

Previously, Carolina has not had a player reach the 100-point mark in a season since Eric Staal did so in 2005-06, a season marked by their only Stanley Cup victory.

Hurricanes’ coach Rod Brind’Amour underscored the importance of Rantanen’s immediate contribution, noting, “He knows he wants to come in here and help contribute right away. You’ve got to be on the scoresheet. That’s where everyone is looking.” The coach expressed relief to see Rantanen net his first goal, allowing him to relax about that aspect of his game.

In just his third match with the Hurricanes, Rantanen had already secured his first point with an assist in a decisive 4-0 win over the New York Rangers prior to the game against the Blackhawks.

Rantanen, who played a key role in helping the Avalanche clinch the Stanley Cup in 2022, will enter free agency following this season.

Joining the Hurricanes has placed Rantanen alongside several fellow Finnish players, including center Sebastian Aho, aiding his transition into the new team. Rantanen expressed gratitude for the supportive environment, stating, “The guys have been great. They’re a resilient group and they work really hard. You can tell they’ve had success in the last couple of years and they play really well together. I’m glad to be part of it.”