Colorado Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland says trading Mikko Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes was a "tough business decision,' calling the star winger a "superstar human being."

The Colorado Avalanche stunningly traded Mikko Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday night, and he was reportedly blindsided.

Chris MacFarland pointed to Rantanen’s pending free agency and the club’s desire to get deeper after three years of being short in that department as reasons for the trade. The NHL’s salary cap ceiling, which is set at $88 million this year but is expected to rise — possibly significantly — in the next couple of seasons is also a factor.

The Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche and Chicago Blackhawks got together on Friday night and gave us one of the biggest blockbuster trades in

The Carolina Hurricanes are wasting no time introducing their latest acquisition to the organization. After swinging a massive trade for superstar Mikko Rantane

Colorado Avalanche shock the NHL by trading high-scoring Mikko Rantanen to Carolina Hurricanes for Martin Necas

Boston Bruins (24-20-6, in the Atlantic Division ... David Pastrnak has 10 goals and eight assists over the past 10 games. Mikko Rantanen has 25 goals and 39 assists for the Avalanche.

In a blockbuster three-team deal, the Carolina Hurricanes acquired Avalanche star forward Mikko Rantanen and former Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall of the Chicago Blackhawks while sending forwards Martin Necas and Jack Drury to Colorado on Friday night.