Hurricanes Newest Star Out With Injury

The Carolina Hurricanes will be without a key newcomer in their final game before the 4 Nations Face-Off break.
Feb 1, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA;  Carolina Hurricanes right wing Mikko Rantanen (96) takes a shot against the Los Angeles Kings during the third period at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
Feb 1, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes right wing Mikko Rantanen (96) takes a shot against the Los Angeles Kings during the third period at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images / James Guillory-Imagn Images
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The Carolina Hurricanes are set for an afternoon contest against the Utah Hockey Club, but they will have to do so without a key newcomer. Mikko Rantanen will be out of the Hurricanes lineup due to a lower-body injury.

Rantanen has played six games with the Hurricanes since they acquired him from the Colorado Avalanche in one of the biggest trades of the season. During that time, he has just one goal and one assist for two points.

It’s unclear how long Rantanen will be hurt for, but the Hurricanes are coming up on a two-week break for the 4 Nations Face-Off. While they will be off, Team Finland will not.

Rantanen is expected to be a key piece of the Finnish lineup, but his status seems unclear at the moment.

Through 55 games of the 2024-25 season, Rantanen has scored 26 goals and 40 assists for 66 total points. Before being traded away from the Avalanche, he was one of their top point producers and leader in goals.

Team Finland played their first game of the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament on Thursday against the United States.

The Hurricanes are yet to add any information regarding the severity of the injury or a possible time-table for a return. More light will likely be shed following their meeting with the Utah Hockey Club.

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Nick Horwat
NICK HORWAT

Nick Horwat is a contributor with Breakaway On SI. He was previously a credentialed reporter for The Hockey News covering the Pittsburgh Penguins. A Pittsburgh native, Nick graduated from Point Park University and started reporting on news and sports with KDKA Radio and 93.7 The Fan. After hosting a Penguins talk radio show in college, he morphed the show into a podcast. The Tip of the Ice-Burgh Podcast has been a leading Penguins podcast since 2019. Follow him on Twitter @NickHorwat41.