NHL Trade Deadline: Hurricanes & Kings Linked In Potential Blockbuster

With the Carolina Hurricanes on the clock—five days and counting—to make a huge decision on their pending UFA Mikko Rantanen, there have been a number of teams rumored to be "in" on trying to make a trade for the superstar Finnish sniper—if the Canes decide to flip him.

We've heard teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs, Vegas Golden Knights, and others as potentially interested parties. But the latest team linked to making a big run at Rantanen is the Los Angeles Kings.

According to James Murphy in rg.org, he's been told by a couple of NHL executive sources that the Kings are interested. One of them told Murphy the following:

I heard Kings today, and you know what, it makes sense! They’ve [LA Kings] got some really good pieces that Carolina likes, I know.

Pieces like up-and-coming young D-man Jordan Spence, for instance.

“I would keep an eye on Jordan Spence there,” the source said. “The Canes are trying hard to start building up that blue line again. I’ve heard Spence out there. It’s going to take more than that, for sure. …but that’s a guy they’d want and is out there.”

Spence has earned full-time minutes on the Kings' blueline this season, with his average time on ice up a full three minutes from last year. He has a plus/minus rating of +12 in 57 games, with 20 points.

Of course, if the Kings are going to be able to pry Rantanen loose from the Hurricanes, it'll likely also take another notable roster player and a top prospect.

But make no mistake, rival execs believe that LA is all-in to make a big splash with someone like Rantanen at this deadline. Another one told Murphy:

"They are looking to go big and he's on their radar. They’re so set up in the middle, and yet, they’re in on [Jake] Evans too. What does that tell you? They’re serious, and Rantanen brings them to another level. I know they’ve poked around, but we’ll see where it goes.”