With the March 7 trade deadline less than two weeks away, Carolina has to decide whether to keep Rantanen for a Stanley Cup run risking losing him next summer if he doesn't extend his contract, or flip him for assets now to avoid that potential worst-case scenario as it happened to the franchise last summer.

The Carolina Hurricanes pulled off a major mid season trade during the 2024-25 National Hockey League regular season, prying pending free agent Mikko Rantanen away from the Colorado Avalanche in the hopes of adding a true bonafide superstar to their roster.

Darren Dreger’s recent X post, dropped a bombshell: the Hurricanes are eager to extend Rantanen, but his uncertainty could push Carolina to consider trading him again. This is a pivotal moment for both teams—and for Rantanen’s legacy.