Report: Maple Leafs among teams very interested in pursuing Mikko Rantanen

Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving has been inactive thus far ahead of Friday’s trade deadline, but it’s possible a seismic deal is on the way.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that the Maple Leafs, Dallas Stars and Los Angeles Kings are among the teams that are very interested in pursuing Carolina Hurricanes forward Mikko Rantanen. Friedman notes that the three-team list is incomplete as Rantanen is expected to have several suitors, while the Hurricanes attempt to figure out whether he wants to move onto to a different team.

Rantanen was traded in a surprising blockbuster earlier this year from the Colorado Avalanche, with the Hurricanes sending back Martin Necas, Jack Drury, a 2025 second-round pick, a 2026 fourth-round pick, in a three-team trade that involved the Chicago Blackhawks retaining 50 percent of Rantanen’s salary. It’s entirely possible Carolina could retain 50 percent of Rantanen’s existing salary, meaning the Maple Leafs and other suitors could add him to their roster at a manageable $2.3 million cap hit, but the asking price may be exorbitant, and the star winger would almost certainly have to agree to an extension, whether officially, or in a handshake deal.

The 28-year-old forward is one of the most dynamic players in the league, and he’s slated to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, which adds an element of uncertainty to the acquisition cost. In some ways, this mirrors Mitch Marner’s ongoing contract scenario, as both players could dictate top-of-the-market salary in an open market this summer.

Carolina would almost certainly demand Toronto’s prized future assets, which include top prospects Easton Cowan, Fraser Minten and Ben Danford, or a combination of roster players, one of the aforementioned prospects and a 2026 or 2027 first-round picks.

Treliving and the Maple Leafs are under pressure to make an upgrade with limited cap room ahead of Friday’s deadline, in the most pivotal season of Marner and Auston Matthews’ tenure with the club. Marner could potentially walk away this summer, with no assets in return, and a trade for Rantanen could involve the nuclear option of a seismic trade involving both star wingers. This would be an unlikely scenario, given that the Maple Leafs’ star winger has stated on numerous occasions that he wants to remain with the team.

It’s not particularly surprising that several teams are interested in Rantanen, especially if his salary is reduced through retention, but it certainly makes a dormant deadline for the Maple Leafs a lot more fascinating ahead of Friday afternoon.