Amid insider Elliotte Friedman's report that the Carolina Hurricanes will not re-sign Mikko Rantanen to a contract extension before the trade deadline on March 7, it is clear the organization owes it to itself to explore a potential trade for the 28-year-old Finnish star,

The Carolina Hurricanes had hoped to sign Mikko Rantanen to a contract extension before the March 7 NHL trade deadline. According to insider Elliotte Friedman on Hockey Night in Canada, that will not happen.

Elliotte Friedman when asked this afternoon about Carolina Hurricanes pending UFA Mikko Rantanen and what might happen tomorrow and beyond. ** NHLRumors.com

Sportsnet: Elliotte Friedman on Saturday Headlines on the tough decision the Carolina Hurricanes will have to make this week. Do they hold on to Mikko Rantanen past the trade deadline if he won’t sign an extension,

Sportsnet: Nick Kypreos and Elliotte Friedman on Friday on the Carolina Hurricanes Mikko Rantanen and that the Toronto Maple Leafs would look at if they could do it. Or do the Maple Leafs try to acquire Brayden Schenn from the St.

Talks intensified last night for the Carolina Hurricanes to send Mikko Rantanen to the Dallas Stars. Elliotte Friedman: Heard the Stars and Rantanen have the framework of a deal and we’ll see if they can finalize it.

According to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, the Dallas Stars acquired Rantanen from the Carolina Hurricanes, where he will sign an eight-year, $96 million contract extension with the team. Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff later reported the full return for Rantenen:

Mikko Rantanen is back on the trade market and that leads to the question, should the New York Rangers go after the superstar forward?

The Carolina Hurricanes have a decision to make on Mikko Rantanen before Friday's trade deadline. Elliotte Friedman writes about the options they are considering.