Longtime NHLer Suggests The Carolina Hurricanes Could Trade Mikko Rantanen This Season

Just a few weeks ago, Mikko Rantanen and the Carolina Hurricanes were the talk of the NHL, as the team moved some significant assets to land the pending free-agent star from the Colorado Avalanche.

They did so under the belief that they could sign No. 96 long-term, but as of yet, there's been no word on a potential extension, despite many believing the Hurricanes could offer a much higher amount than Colorado.

There are also questions over whether or not they can get a deal done, with Keith Yandle making a shock suggestion on the latest episode of the Spittin' Chiclets podcast.

The conversation began with Paul Bissonette suggesting that Carolina may not ink a new deal with Ratnanen, to which Yandle chimed in and suggested that the team could trade him before the deadline if they can't agree, especially after the Jake Guentzel situation a year ago.

That would be a major shocker, especially after moving out Martin Necas and Jack Drury along with draft picks to make it happen, and if they can't get a long-term deal done, it's unlikely that any acquiring team looking to get him now would want to make it happen either.

This is a story to keep a close eye on moving forward, as Carolina doesn't want to lose another rental in free agency after making a big deadline splash, and if there are options out there to move Rantanen if he doesn't want to re-sign, it could be a move that makes sense.