NHL Rumor Roundup: The Aftermath Of The Rantanen Trade

The NHL world is still buzzing about Friday's blockbuster trade that sent Mikko Rantanen from the Colorado Avalanche to the Carolina Hurricanes in a three-team deal brokered by the Chicago Blackhawks.

It may be the biggest in-season trade in the salary cap era since the Boston Bruins shipped Joe Thornton to the San Jose Sharks almost 20 years ago.

As pundits and fans assess the fallout, the Rantanen trade had an immediate effect on the NHL trade market.

Related: Three Big Things The NHL's Mega Mikko Rantanen Trade Tells Us

Patrick Johnston of The Province cited TSN's Pierre LeBrun claiming the Vancouver Canucks were close to a trade with the Hurricanes before the latter opted to acquire Rantanen. Johnston believes it must've involved Canucks center Elias Pettersson considering the Hurricanes gave up forwards Martin Necas and Jack Drury and two draft picks for Rantanen. He also noted the Hurricanes looked into acquiring Pettersson last year before he signed his contract extension.

The Hockey News' Adam Kierszenblat cited CHEK-TV's Rick Dhaliwal reporting the Canucks inquired about Necas in discussions involving J.T. Miller. However, the Hurricanes declined and sent Necas to the Avalanche.

Sam Keeler of The Denver Post was disappointed in the return the Avalanche received in this deal. If the Avalanche aren't planning a big move to replace Rantanen before the March 7 NHL trade deadline, Keeler believes they'll be waving the white flag this season.

During Saturday's 32 Thoughts intermission segment on Hockey Night in Canada, host Ron MacLean asked Elliotte Friedman if the Avalanche could acquire Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby.

Crosby's name surfaced following the Rantanen trade after Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli made a tweet citing an “impeccable source” saying that the deal wasn't the biggest thing on the table in the previous 48 hours.

Acquiring Crosby would unite him with Avs center Nathan MacKinnon, his fellow Cole Harbour, N.S., native and off-season training buddy. However, Friedman doesn't see that happening, likely because Crosby has a full no-movement clause and signed a two-year contract extension last year.

Related: Opinion: Evgeni Malkin Staying With Penguins Feels Like Mats Sundin Staying With Maple Leafs

Friedman also mentioned some observers wondered how the Rantanen trade might affect Mitch Marner's future with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Hockey News' Adam Proteau believes Marner could fetch a king's ransom if the Leafs made him available before the deadline.

Like Rantanen, Marner is UFA-eligible on July 1. Friedman pointed out Marner has a full no-movement clause whereas Rantanen had a partial no-trade. Proteau believes he'll re-sign with the Leafs.

Meanwhile, Carolina Hurricanes GM Eric Tulsky told LeBrun he's hoping to sign Rantanen to a long-term contract extension. The Hurricanes are the only club that can sign him to an eight-year deal, as he'll get seven on the open market. Tulsky also didn't rule out making another move to improve his club before March 7.

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