As fans and pundits assess the outcome of a memorable 2025 NHL trade deadline, reports emerged regarding deals that were discussed but ultimately fell through.
The biggest would’ve seen the Toronto Maple Leafs sending Mitch Marner to the Carolina Hurricanes for Mikko Rantanen.
Sportsnet cited Nick Kypreos reporting the Maple Leafs originally pitched top prospects Easton Cowan and Fraser Minten and two first-round draft picks to Carolina. However, the Hurricanes countered by asking for Marner. Kypreos also claimed the Leafs offered an eight-year contract extension worth between $105 million and $110 million.
Kypreos’ colleague Elliotte Friedman indicated the Leafs spoke with Marner, telling him their priority was to re-sign him, but a trade to Carolina was possible if that was his preference. The 27-year-old winger has a full no-movement clause and declined to waive it, indicating he wanted to stay in Toronto.
Rantanen was shipped to the Dallas Stars for Logan Stankoven, two first-round picks and two third-rounders.
Marner spoke about the situation following the Leafs’ loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday. He admitted he had a feeling that something like that might happen but reiterated that his focus was on the Leafs.
Some observers wondered whether this might hurt Marner’s contract extension negotiations with the Leafs. However, considering how professionally both sides handled this situation, it shouldn’t affect those talks at all.
The Leafs weren’t the only team attempting to land Rantanen. TSN’s Ryan Rishaug reported the Edmonton Oilers looked into acquiring him before the deadline.
Rishaug reported that Rantanen was interested in joining the Oilers. There was also a discussion about a contract extension worth more than the eight-year, $96-million deal he signed with the Stars. However, the Oilers lacked the trade assets to pull it off.
Acquiring Rantanen wouldn’t have addressed the Oilers’ shaky goaltending or blueline depth, but it would’ve been entertaining seeing Rantanen playing alongside Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
Meanwhile, a TSN report claimed the Ottawa Senators had spoken with the Nashville Predators regarding a swap of Ryan O’Reilly for Josh Norris. However, those discussions fell through, and the Senators sent Norris to the Buffalo Sabres for Dylan Cozens.
Media chatter linked O’Reilly to the Maple Leafs before the trade deadline. However, The Hockey News’ Emma Lingan reported there was no chance the 34-year-old center would return to Toronto. She pointed out that they tried to extend him in 2023, offering more money than the Predators, but he refused.
Speaking of Cozens, the Montreal Canadiens “kicked tires” on the 23-year-old center. However, they lacked the available trade assets necessary to pry him out of Buffalo.
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