Seventeen days ago the hockey world, and fans around this team in particular, were stunned when Mikko Rantanen was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes — suddenly ending his storied 10-year stint with the Colorado Avalanche.

As if the Carolina Hurricanes haven't had enough troubles as of late, new winger Mikko Rantanen will not play this afternoon against the Utah Hockey Club as the Finn has been ruled out with a lower-body injury.

Since being acquired Jan. 24 in a shocking trade that brought him and Taylor Hall to the Hurricanes and shipped out Martin Necas, Jack Drury and draft picks, Rantanen has one goal and one assist in six games, and he’s been unable to pull Carolina’s power play out of its funk.

Carolina Hurricanes winger Mikko Rantanen (96) skates against the New York Islanders. Rantanen, 28, is in the final year of a six-year, $55.5 million contract and could be seeking a deal in the range of $14 million per year— comparable to Leon Draisaitl’s extension with the Edmonton Oilers.

Carolina Hurricanes forward Mikko Rantanen is out of the lineup Saturday against Utah due to a lower-body injury and his status for the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament is now to be determined.

The Carolina Hurricanes just brought in star Mikko Rantanen, but his tenure with the team may not last long. Carolina may be flipping Rantanen, per NHL Trade Rumors. The Hurricanes brought in the winger weeks ago from the Colorado Avalanche,