RALEIGH, NC — In a stunning twist that has sent shockwaves through the NHL rumor mill, the Carolina Hurricanes reportedly came this close to pulling off a game-changing, franchise-altering three-team trade that would have landed them both Mitch Marner and Mikko Rantanen. Yes, you read that right — TWO of the league’s most dynamic forwards nearly landed in Raleigh in what insiders are calling one of the biggest “what could have been” deals in modern NHL history.
But then… it all collapsed. And now the Hurricanes — once seen as a rising juggernaut in the East — are left with a bitter taste, an empty locker spot, and the question on every fan’s mind:
What the hell happened?
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The Mega Deal That Almost Was
According to multiple league sources with direct knowledge of the negotiations, the framework of the deal was shockingly bold. Here’s how it was supposed to go down:
Toronto Maple Leafs would send Mitch Marner to the Carolina Hurricanes
Colorado Avalanche would send Mikko Rantanen to the Toronto Maple Leafs
Carolina Hurricanes would send a package including Martin Nečas, Brett Pesce, a 2025 1st-round pick, and a top prospect (reportedly Felix Unger Sörum) split between Toronto and Colorado
Toronto would also include salary retention to make the cap gymnastics work, while Colorado would receive a secondary pick from Carolina for flexibility
The deal was this close to being finalized during the lead-up to the 2025 NHL Draft — with insiders saying the teams even had the paperwork drawn up. Then, everything fell apart.
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The Collapse: A Matter of Seconds… and Ego?
Reports indicate that a last-minute change from the Colorado front office caused the deal to unravel. Colorado GM Chris MacFarland reportedly grew uneasy about Rantanen’s exit without a direct star-level return, while Toronto GM Brad Treliving hesitated over long-term salary implications. Meanwhile, Carolina GM Don Waddell believed he had a handshake deal already in place.
“It was essentially agreed upon in principle,” one source said. “But then the Avalanche changed course, and once that happened, everything spiraled.”
Others cite internal tensions between Carolina’s ownership group and their front office. One insider revealed that team owner Tom Dundon may have grown wary of the financial commitment to both Marner and Rantanen, each carrying cap hits over $10M and due for extensions.
In the end, the Hurricanes backed away first. And the moment passed.
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The Fallout: What Could Have Been…
For Carolina fans, this one hurts — badly.
Imagine a top-six featuring Sebastian Aho, Mitch Marner, Mikko Rantanen, Andrei Svechnikov, and Seth Jarvis. That would have instantly made the Hurricanes Stanley Cup favorites. Add in their already elite blue line, and the idea of them missing out feels almost criminal.
Instead, they remain largely the same team that exited in Round 2 this postseason — talented, but clearly a step behind the juggernauts of the East.
Toronto, meanwhile, still faces its annual identity crisis and cap crunch. And Colorado, aging and in need of future assets, may have missed their best opportunity to reload without bottoming out.
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Social Media Goes Nuclear
Hockey Twitter exploded once details of the failed deal leaked.
> “CAROLINA FUMBLED THE BAG 🔥🔥🔥”
– @HockeyHotTakes
> “Rantanen + Marner on the same line with Aho? That’s a cheat code. They BLEW IT.”
– @NHLTradeTracker
> “I’m done. This franchise will never take the next step. They had the golden ticket and tore it up.”
– A distraught Hurricanes fan on Reddit
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Where Do the Canes Go From Here?
This offseason now feels like a make-or-break moment for Don Waddell. With Pesce likely walking in free agency and Nečas rumored to be disgruntled, the Hurricanes may have not only missed out on two elite talents — they could be heading toward a soft reset whether they want it or not.
Expect Carolina to aggressively pursue backup options in the coming weeks, possibly targeting lesser-known top-six forwards or circling back to teams like Calgary, Anaheim, or Vancouver for trade alternatives. But the reality is…
There is no Plan B that compares to this.
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Final Thoughts
Deals like this — the ones that nearly happen but don’t — become part of NHL lore. Like the Wayne Gretzky-to-Detroit whispers in the ’80s or the rumored Carey Price-for-Vincent Lecavalier swap that almost rocked the Canadiens and Lightning.
Now, the Hurricanes have their own “what if” to add to NHL history.
“We believed this trade could change the direction of our franchise,” one Hurricanes executive reportedly said. “Instead, it’s just another chapter
in the story of what might have been.”
And for Canes fans… that’s the saddest news of all.