The Carolina Hurricanes had plenty of trade offers for star forward Mikko Rantanen ahead of Friday’s NHL trade deadline, and ultimately the 28-year-old sniper was dealt to the Dallas Stars in exchange for center prospect Logan Stankoven,

This wasn’t just any trade offer, but the Hurricanes had no interest in sending Rantanen to the Maple Leafs. And their reasoning had nothing to do with the players, picks, or financial aspects of the deal.

The Carolina Hurricanes Mikko Rantanen saga was quite an ordeal over the past week, finally concluding with him being traded to the Dallas Stars for Logan Stankoven, two first-round picks and two third-round picks on Friday afternoon.

With the NHL trade deadline set for tomorrow at 3 p.m. EST, the Toronto Maple Leafs just might have a trick or two up their sleeve.

Mikko Rantanen is a member of the Stars. The Hurricanes went after him (possibly due to a misunderstanding) with the goal of signing him long-term in January, but a few weeks later, he’s in Dallas.

The Maple Leafs tried to get Mikko Rantanen from the Hurricanes before the trade deadline before he was traded to the Stars.

Rantanen was reportedly blindsided by the late-January trade that saw him move away from the NHL team, where he won the Stanley Cup in 2022 and had spent his entire career since being taken 10th overall in the 2015 draft. In 12 games with the Hurricanes, Rantanen has put up two goals and four assists for six points.

With the NHL Trade Deadline closing in, the contract talks and trade status of superstar forward Mikko Rantanen have taken center stage. Will they move him? Even after Rantanen reportedly shut down contract negotiations,

By JOHN WAWROW and STEPHEN WHYNO Mikko Rantanen is heading back to the Western Conference. The Dallas Stars paid a big price to acquire the prolific playoff performer from the Carolina Hurricanes