Mikko Rantanen Situation Just Took an Interesting Turn for the Maple Leafs

With the trade deadline set for tomorrow afternoon, the Toronto Maple Leafs remain one of the few contending teams that have yet to make a splash, but there's optimism that their waiting game can blossom into the acquisition of a top player.

While St. Louis Blues forward Brayden Schenn remains a top target and Philadelphia Flyers forward Scott Laughton being a potential backup plan, Carolina Hurricanes star Mikko Rantanen is the big fish the Leafs may be eying.

After being traded mid-season to the Hurricanes, Rantanen has once again become available with Carolina unable to get an extension done before the trade deadline. A trade is almost assuredly on the table for the right deal, which is something the Maple Leafs can afford to make.

Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies is the prize the Hurricanes are looking to get their hands on if they move Rantanen to Toronto, but it has to come with the stipulation that Rantanen is willing to commit long-term.

Additionally David Pagnotta from The Fourth Period reported that Rantanen is willing to sign an extension with "the right team" as a part of a sign and trade, which opens up all possibilities for the Leafs -- a contending team in a wide open Eastern Conference.

Giving up on the 22-year-old Knies would be a big loss but the only way it gets done is if Brad Treliving can get a commitment from Rantanen, which would be instrumental for the future of the Maple Leafs.

Carolina is also able to retain his already retained salary further so he would be able to come in at a cap hit of $2.315 million. To add that to your core of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and John Tavares could be the move that finally gets the Leafs over the hump in the postseason.

Getting an extension done would also alleviate additional stress regarding the pending unrestricted contracts of Marner and Tavares. It is widely believed that the Maple Leafs would have been in on Rantanen if Marner priced himself out in the summer, so this deal would work on several fronts.

At the moment it's all speculative, but it's a fluid situation that Carolina seemingly wants to resolve ahead of tomorrow's deadline. There's always the possibility that they hold onto Rantanen for a postseason run of their own, but if Knies is available, it sounds like they'd make the deal today.