The NHL trade deadline is Friday afternoon, and scuttlebutt around the league has centered on Rantanen and whether the Canes will re-sign him, trade him, or keep him and try to agree on a new contract.

Blockbuster trades like the one that occurred between the Colorado Avalanche and Carolina Hurricanes just over a month ago are rare in the NHL.

It was just over a month ago that Mikko Rantanen was dealt to the Carolina Hurricanes in a stunner of a trade that sent Martin Necas and Jack Drury to the Colorado Avalanche. But the free-agent-to-be has quite the decision to make: will the Finnish star sign with the Hurricanes long-term?

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Multiple sources have stated that the Hurricanes have asked teams around the league what a possible return would be for Rantanen before the trade deadline. According to Sportsnets

Christopher Hennessy is an MLB associate editor at ClutchPoints, with additional expertise in the NHL and golf. He graduated with a journalism degree from Fordham University in 2022, and he has work experience at Spectrum News One in Albany, New York and with The Hockey Writers as a New York Islanders reporter.

The Carolina Hurricanes have become the talk of the NHL since they acquired star forward Mikko Rantanen from the Colorado Avalanche. Since his arrival, however,

Rantanen has played in 61 games this season, posting 70 points (27 goals, 43 assists) with the Avalanche and Hurricane.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are still firmly positioned in the Mikko Rantanen sweepstakes as the Carolina Hurricanes weigh the possibility of moving the star winger before Friday’s trade deadline, depending on his decision.

Many teams have reportedly been interested in the superstar forward, and among the names, here are the three that make the most sense.