Insider Proposes "Incredibly Consequential" Rantanen Trade to Maple Leafs

After years of falling short in their attempts at playoff glory, the Toronto Maple Leafs have a chance this year to pull off an "incredibly consequential" trade that could finally lead them to the Stanley Cup promised land.

If the Carolina Hurricanes do not feel like they can re-sign Mikko Rantanen and are ready to trade him before the deadline within the next week, insider Nick Kypreos writes in the Toronto Star that the Leafs "need to rise above the rest" and go all-in and pull off a trade.

If the Hurricanes retain 50% of what's left of Rantanen's cap hit, it would only be a $2.3M contract for the receiving team. That is doable for any contender.

How, why and when (spoiler alert: right now) the Maple Leafs should trade for Mikko Rantanen https://t.co/BKIvMcNnBi
— Toronto Star (@TorontoStar) February 27, 2025

Here's what he proposes:

Maple Leafs Receive:

Mikko Rantanen

Hurricanes Receive:

Bobby McMann
Easton Cowen OR Fraser Minten
'Draft Pick'

Kypreos feels that package would do it. He doesn't suggest what draft pick, but we'd have to assume it's a first-rounder, perhaps in 2026 or '27 (the Leafs don't have one this year).

He goes on to suggest that this would be done without any guarantees that Rantanen would re-sign, but with the former Colorado Avalanche's proven playoff success, it would boost the Leafs' chances at a Cup exponentially. Plus it gives them insurance in case another pretty important pending UFA, Mitch Marner, decides to sign elsewhere.

It would be a "pressure-free" playoff run for Rantanen, and a Stanley Cup would give the Leafs "a huge leg up on signing him long-term" if Marner were to leave.

We all know that the Buds can use a boost in scoring outside of the Core Four of Auston Matthews, Marner, William Nylander and John Tavares, and there wouldn't be more of a boost than Rantanen.

This would all have to be balanced with the fact that a move like this could put aside the Leafs' dire need for a third-line center at the trade deadline.