Maple Leafs linked to blockbuster Mikko Rantanen trade.

Perhaps the biggest story in the National Hockey League leading up to the NHL's Trade Deadline on March 7th is the future of former Colorado Avalanche star forward turned Carolina Hurricanes star forward Mikko Rantanen.

Rantanen was acquired by the Hurricanes in a shocking mid-season blockbuster trade deal that caught absolutely everyone off guard, including Rantanen himself. Since the trade the Hurricanes have been trying to get Rantanen to commit to a long term deal with their franchise but Rantanen has yet to sign on the dotted line, leading to rampant speculation around the NHL that the Hurricanes may attempt to trade Rantanen again before the trade deadline.

The question of course is what team would be able to pull of a trade of this magnitude? Well on a recent episode of the 32 Thoughts podcast, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman indicated that he believes the Toronto Maple Leafs are likely to be very interested in bringing Rantanen to Toronto for a playoff run.

"It's just [Brad] Treliving's way that he would poke into Rantanen," said Friedman on the 32 Thoughts podcast.

Unlike Carolina, Friedman believes that the Maple Leafs would be more interested in Rantanen as a pure rental rather than a long term solution.

"Now obviously it could never be a long term thing unless their cap situation completely change," admitted Friedman.

Friedman sounded quite confident that, if Rantanen is indeed available, Treliving will at least make an attempt to bring the player to Toronto.

"I find it very hard to believe that if Rantanen got out there, Toronto wouldn't at least see what it took to do it," said Friedman.

Friedman even made it sound like Rantanen would immediately become a priority target for the Maple Leafs, even over other rumored targets like Brayden Schenn of the St. Louis Blues, should he be available before the deadline.

"Although if Rantanen is out there I think they poke around at him and see what possibilities may or may not exist."