Insider Reveals Leafs May Target Star Winger at Deadline If Hurricanes Decide to Flip Him
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According to a new report, the Maple Leafs may be prepared to step in and acquire star winger Mikko Rantanen if Hurricanes opt to flip him at the trade deadline.
Linked to a number of centers due to it being their biggest need ahead of the trade deadline, the Leafs may have to pivot if one high-profile winger becomes available.
The Hurricanes and Avalanche shocked everyone with a late-night blockbuster at the end of January that saw Mikko Rantanen head to Carolina for Martin Necas and other assets.
The Avs dealt Rantanen instead of risking losing him for nothing during free agency and now Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman believes the Canes could do the same thing.
Friedman noted in Friday's '32 Thoughts' podcast that as a pure rental player, Rantanen would garner a ton of attention and the asking price would be astronomical.
"If Rantanen is a pure rental, I think the lineup is going to be very long. The thing about Rantanen is, the Blackhawks ate 50 percent of his salary, so if you look at him in Carolina, his cap hit is $4.625 and the Hurricanes have three retention spots. If they want to flip Rantanen or it comes to that, it's a little over $2.3M. We'll see how this all goes, but him as a rental, it opens it up to anybody...There will be teams that say, 'we can't sign him, but we want him as a rental' and I think it will be good teams...Teams like Vegas, Tampa, Florida, Toronto."
As much as the Leafs need a center, if Rantanen becomes available, it is an opportunity they cannot pass up. Very rarely, does a 100+ point player become available for a $2.3M cap hit. While the package would be steep, acquiring the Stanley Cup Champion would also give the Leafs the opportunity to sign the 28-year-old to an 8-year deal as opposed to the 7 years he would get in free agency.
A proven playoff performer, Rantanen would give the Leafs the needed secondary scoring that they never get in the playoffs as well as another option on a power-play that disappears in the post-season.
Although he has struggled in Carolina, the former first-round pick has 26 goals and 66 points this season and has been lights out in the post-season tallying 34 goals and 101 points in 81 playoff games.
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