Second trade in the works for Mikko Rantanen!?
A deal is being considered as we speak. Full story below:
Mikko Rantanen has gotten a lot of people talking at this time. The Carolina Hurricanes have made it clear they want to keep him in the fold, reportedly offering the star forward a lucrative contract offer during the 4 Nations Face-Off, exceeding the $100 million mark.
“The Hurricanes met with his representatives face-to-face,” Elliotte Friedman recently reported. “The Hurricanes made an offer. I believe that offer is into the nine digits. It’s a big, big offer.”
However, Rantanen is still mulling over the offer and now Frank Seravalli reports that if he hasn’t given the Hurricanes an answer by March 7, he will be traded once again as Carolina does not want to risk losing him for nothing next summer.
Earlier this week, Seravalli updated his Trade Targets board at Daily Faceoff and Rantanen landed on the list at No. 40.
“The Canes pulled off the blockbuster deal almost exactly one month ago, snatching Rantanen from Colorado on Jan. 24. One month later, they haven’t come to an agreement on an extension. Rantanen’s production has slipped in Carolina, too, with just two points in six games – even if his underlying numbers suggest he’s played just as well (or better!). Carolina won’t be afraid to flip him if they can’t extend him, and the closer we get to March 7 without a deal, the more likely it is. Chicago already retained half, so Carolina could knock Rantanen down to just a $2.313 million cap hit for the remainder of this season if they wanted. Juicy!”
Friedman also confirmed the possibility that the Hurricanes could flip Rantanen again by the deadline and how they might be looking at different trade suitors with just over a week left to go before the deadline.
At the end of January, Carolina sent forwards Marin Necas and Jack Drury along with a second-round pick and a fourth-round pick to the Colorado Avalanche for Rantanen.
If the Canes indeed pull the trigger ahead of March 7 and get Rantanen on the move again, they would likely be looking for players who can help them win in the short-term and who are under control moving forward.
Where would Rantanen end up this time?
