The Carolina Hurricanes and Dallas Stars are close to trading for Mikko Rantanen, but it hinges on Rantanen agreeing to a contract extension with the Stars, according to ESPN’s Emily Kaplan.
As the 3 p.m. ET trade deadline approaches, discussions between the two teams are heating up. Late Thursday, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that a deal might send Rantanen from Carolina to Dallas.
The details of the trade are still unclear, but an extension for Rantanen, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent, seems to be a key part of the negotiations.
The Hurricanes brought Rantanen on board in January as part of a significant trade that included Martin Necas moving to the Colorado Avalanche. Although Rantanen had two consecutive 100-point seasons before this season, he has struggled since joining the Hurricanes, scoring just two goals and four assists in 13 games.
At 28 years old, Rantanen carries a cap hit of $4.625 million. The Chicago Blackhawks helped by retaining 50% of his salary in January. If another team, like the Hurricanes or the Stars, retains additional salary, that amount could drop to $2.23 million.
The Stars still have cap space available despite previously acquiring forward Mikael Granlund and defenseman Cody Ceci from the San Jose Sharks. Tyler Seguin is out for the rest of the regular season, and it’s uncertain if Miro Heiskanen will return after knee surgery.
Check out this related article: Ultimate NHL Trade Deadline Review: Expert Grades on Every Deal This Season!
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