Elliotte Friedman Once Again Links the Toronto Maple Leafs to 50-Goal Scorer
NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman has once again placed the Toronto Maple Leafs as one of the top contenders to acquire superstar forward Mikko Rantanen.
It shocked the hockey world when Mikko Rantanen was acquired by the Carolina Hurricanes in a three team trade involving both Colorado and Chicago which saw Carolina instantly Stanley Cup favorites after the deal.
But Rantanen's fit hasn't been perfect with the team, and there haven't been much extension talks and there are legitimate questions surrounding if Rantanen is going to be on the team come trade deadline, let alone next season.
According to NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman, Rantanen could potentially end up being a rental for a contending team which includes the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Mikko Rantanen Could End Up A Maple Leaf: Elliotte Friedman
On the latest 32 Thoughts episode, Friedman and co-host Kyle Bukauskas chatted about Mikko Rantanen's future with Friedman speculating that the Finnish phenom could be on the move again:
The thing about Rantanen is, the Blackhawks ate 50% so if you take a look in Carolina, his cap hit there with the Hurricanes is $4.625M.
The Hurricanes have three retention slots, if they want flip Rantanen, it's a little over $2.3M; anyone can do that.
You're going to be able to find a way to handle that. There are teams saying 'we can't sign him, but can use him as a rental.'
But they're good teams: Dallas, Vegas, Winnipeg, Florida, Tampa, Toronto. I wonder what you can get for him with that kind of competition.
Well, that's a twist we didn't really see coming. Toronto having the chance to acquire Rantanen for technically less money than Scott Laughton is ridiculous.
Friedman had linked Rantanen to Toronto recently and the fact that the two keep getting brought up together is an exciting proposition.
Granted, the cost in terms of assets will be astronomical when it comes to getting him and having Carolina retain salary but if they really can't see a future with him, they could look to scoop a king's ransom for him.
Easily Toronto needs to give up Easton Cowan, all of their premium draft picks, potentially Ben Danford as well. It's going to be a full swap of future talent for immediate success, but this is Toronto's best window of opportunity.
No doubt Rantanen would make an impact for the Maple Leafs.
In 55 games he has 26 goals and 40 assists while winning 53% of his face-offs; so the Leafs could use him down the middle as well (a very big issue for the team this season).
But it's going to be hard to compete with teams like Winnipeg, Dallas, Florida et al because they hold better assets than the Leafs, and no stone will go unturned when it comes to finding pieces to acquire Rantanen.
It's pieces Toronto doesn't necessarily have, and then there's the decision of keeping Marner or Rantanen, two men who have similar careers and are expected to receive very similar, albeit expensive contracts.
With the Maple Leafs in win-now mode, and their window closing, it could be a good idea for them to go all-in.
But if they do and fail yet again: What can they possibly do next?
![Feb 20, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Brady Tkachuk (7) celebrates scoring against Team Canada during the first period during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/530920.webp "Feb 20, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Brady Tkachuk (7) celebrates scoring against Team Canada during the first period during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images")
![Feb 20, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward Mitch Marner (16) warms up prior to the during the first periodau- during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/530913.webp "Feb 20, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward Mitch Marner (16) warms up prior to the during the first periodau- during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images")
