Hurricanes’ Mikko Rantanen won’t play Saturday versus Utah due to lower-body injury

Carolina Hurricanes right winger Mikko Rantanen won’t play Saturday versus the Utah Hockey Club due to a lower-body injury.

Acquired from the Colorado Avalanche in late January, Rantanen has since made six appearances with the Hurricanes in which he has recorded one goal and one assist for two points alongside 21 shots, four penalty minutes, and a plus-one rating. On the season, through 55 contests with the Avalanche and Hurricanes, Rantanen has posted 66 points counting 26 goals and 40 assists.

It is not yet known whether the lower-body injury will preclude Rantanen from participating with his native Finland at the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off to be held February 12-20 in Boston and Montreal.

Originally chosen 10th overall by the Avalanche in the 2015 NHL Draft, the 28-year-old spent part of 10 seasons with the Denver-based club where prior to his arrival in Carolina he had collected 287 goals with 394 assists for 681 points through 619 career contests. Over the past two seasons, Rantanen has eclipsed the 100-point plateau, while in 2021-22 he hoisted the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche after putting up 25 points counting five goals and 20 assists through 20 games en route to the championship.

A pending unrestricted free agent, Rantanen was moved to the Hurricanes after he and the Avalanche were unable to come to terms on a contract extension. In adding Rantanen, the Hurricanes parted with center Martin Necas, who has since put up four goals and five assists for nine points through eight games with the Avalanche. The Hurricanes also moved out center Jack Drury who has scored twice in eight games with Carolina.

In the midst of a three-game losing skid, the Hurricanes enter Saturday’s contest against Utah sitting second place in the Metropolitan Division with a 32-19-4 record and 68 points. The Hurricanes have qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of the past six seasons.