When the Maple Leafs had their first crack at Mikko Rantanen, they chose another right winger, Mitch Marner, instead.
That was at the 2015 draft when Marner went fourth overall. Rantanen went 10th to Colorado, albeit far less-known at that time, a nine-goal scorer with TPS Turku in Finland. Marner was coming off a 126-point season just down the 401 with the London Knights.
Fast forward to this week and the Leafs are looking at Rantanen again, per hockey outlets such as The Fourth Period. However, now he’s a filled-out, 6-foot-4, 50-goal, Stanley Cup winner. And this time he won’t be free.
Whether Toronto’s Brad Treliving is just doing due diligence or thinks there could really be a deal, given Rantanen’s cheap ticket on salary retention by Carolina and Chicago, it’s far from complete. The Canes, who moved some mountains to recently bring him in from the Avs in January, must decide how to proceed as TSN’s Pierre LeBrun has reported that Rantanen — like Marner, a pending unrestricted free agent — won’t sign an extension with them by 3 p.m., on Friday, the NHL trade deadline.
The Leafs would be competing for Rantanen’s services with several teams, including Dallas, Vegas, the Los Angeles Kings and, most concerning for them if true, the Florida Panthers, despite their first-place rivals having done lots of business already this week.
As the Canes feel out the level of interest in Rantanen they might just keep him for their playoff run, which was their goal in the first place when acquiring him from the Avalanche.
Rantanen piled up 64 points in 49 games as Nathan MacKinnon’s running mate with the Avs this season, but had managed just two goals and four assists in a dozen games with Carolina since the trade before Thursday’s game against the Bruins.
A week ago, Treliving wasn’t anticipating the Leafs would be in on any blockbusters, let alone contemplating life with Marner, William Nylander and Rantanen featured on his right flank depth chart. But it behooves him to at least listen after this unforeseen development — and a cooling of talk that centre Brayden Schenn would leave St. Louis. But if Treliving can’t offer any Core Four Leafs — Marner wants to stay and Matthews and Nylander are locked in long terms at eight figures apiece — expect the Canes to ask for Marner’s current linemate, Matthew Knies, as well as the Marlies and junior prospects the GM has held on to thus far.
REAVES ON WAIVERS
The Leafs began some pre-trade deadline housekeeping on Thursday, with winger Ryan Reaves placed on waivers as part of several teams dangling spare-part players on the wire.
Reaves, who is signed through next season at $1.35 million, represents a $1.15 million cap saving if he clears at 2 p.m., on Friday and is assigned to the Marlies. The 38-year-old has played in 35 games this year with no goals, two assists and 28 penalty minutes with long stretches sitting in the press box.
Reaves joined the Leafs last season to replace Wayne Simmonds as the team policeman and made it into 54 games, including five in the playoffs. But Toronto moved more towards toughness by committee under new coach Craig Berube and Reaves found few takers this year when he did want to fight.
Alex Steeves and the returning Connor Dewar are two players who have demonstrated in recent games that the Leafs could get by without Reaves, especially when fighting is curtailed in playoffs.
Simmonds, who’d never played in the minors, did not report to the Marlies in a similar situation, which the Leafs let slide as he retired.
Around the NHL on Thursday, centre Tyler Pitlick of the Bruins and defenceman Riley Stillman of Carolina joined Reaves on the wire, with minor-league goalie Evan Cormier of Florida and Utah Hockey Club farmhand forward Cameron Hevig. Also on Thursday, former Edmonton first-round pick forward Jesse Puljujarvi cleared waivers after the Panthers claimed him from Pittsburgh and signed him to a two-way contract.
Three claims were made Thursday, Nashville picking up left winger Jakub Vrana from Washington and veteran defenceman Jordan Oesterle from Boston, Columbus scooping winger Christian Fischer off Detroit, a team the Jackets are battling for a wild-card playoff spot.
LOOSE LEAFS
Centre Luke Kunin, whom the Leafs had a look at Monday in San Jose’s shootout victory, was held out of the Sharks’ Thursday night game in Colorado. If he goes to Toronto, he won’t have to change hotel rooms with the Leafs already there for Saturday’s game … Treliving and assistants such as Brandon Pridham, will conduct trade deadline business from Denver … The Leafs had Thursday off after their hectic travel since the 4 Nations Face-off seemed to catch up with them in a flat-footed loss to the Golden Knights. To a man, they didn’t use it as an excuse for giving up five straight goals. “I’ve been living out of a suitcase, but it’s fine,” Matthews told reporters in Vegas on Wednesday. “I’m missing my dog and sleeping in my own bed, but it’s just the nature of hockey.”
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