The NHL trade deadline is just under one week away, set for noon PST on Friday, March 7. The biggest story heading into this pivotal week of the season is the circumstances surrounding Mikko Rantanen and the Carolina Hurricanes.

Rantanen, who has back-to-back 100-point seasons and also played at that pace the two seasons prior, had just two points in six games with Carolina before the 4 Nations break, missing the last game due to injury. He had one assist on Saturday vs. Toronto.

Mikko Rantanen is not off to a good start with the Hurricanes after being shockingly dealt by the Avalanche in January. His fit through nine games has been awkward enough to inspire another round of Rantanen trade rumors ahead of the NHL trade deadline.

Mikko Rantanen had a multi-point night on Thursday, showing signs of life after joining the Carolina Hurricanes. However, his long-term future with the team remains uncertain.

Amid insider Elliotte Friedman's report that the Carolina Hurricanes will not re-sign Mikko Rantanen to a contract extension before the trade deadline on March 7, it is clear the organization owes it to itself to explore a potential trade for the 28-year-old Finnish star,

The NHL trade deadline is fast approaching, and contenders across the league are trying to get the firepower that they need to make a push for the Stanley Cup. The Carolina Hurricanes tried to do that near the end of January when they traded for star winger Mikko Rantanen from the Colorado Avalanche.

Perhaps the biggest story in the National Hockey League leading up to the NHL’s Trade Deadline on March 7th is the future of former Colorado Avalanche star forward turned Carolina Hurricanes star forward Mikko Rantanen.

One proposed NHL trade deadline blockbuster would reroute the Hurricanes' Mikko Rantanen to the Ducks in exchange for a forward making slightly more.