The Toronto Maple Leafs made a splash at the NHL’s 2025 trade deadline Friday, pulling off two significant deals to improve the team. But according to a Sportsnet report, the Leafs could’ve made a blockbuster move by trading star right winger Mitch Marner to Carolina for star right winger Mikko Rantanen.

Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner declined a trade that included Mikko Rantanen at the NHL trade deadline and gave his reaction.

Nearly two years ago, the Leafs lost leverage in the Mitch Marner contract situation and set the stage for Mikko Rantanen deadline talks.

The Toronto Maple Leafs were extremely active during deadline day on Friday (Mar. 7) bringing in Brandon Carlo from the Boston Bruins and Scott Laughton from the Philadelphia Flyers, while also moving Connor Dewar and Conor Timmins to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Carolina Hurricanes had plenty of trade offers for star forward Mikko Rantanen ahead of Friday’s NHL trade deadline, and ultimately the 28-year-old sniper was dealt to the Dallas Stars in exchange for center prospect Logan Stankoven,

NHL insider Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet revealed the Toronto Maple Leafs had the best offer for Mikko Rantanen but the Hurricanes said no.

The Maple Leafs tried to get Mikko Rantanen from the Hurricanes before the trade deadline before he was traded to the Stars.

Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving voiced his support for Mitch Marner following reports the two sides discussed a move to the Carolina Hurricanes before Friday's trade deadline.

Rantanen was reportedly blindsided by the late-January trade that saw him move away from the NHL team, where he won the Stanley Cup in 2022 and had spent his entire career since being taken 10th overall in the 2015 draft. In 12 games with the Hurricanes, Rantanen has put up two goals and four assists for six points.

The Toronto Maple Leafs faced a tough trade deadline on Friday, with star forward Mitch Marner entering the final weeks of his deal and no agreement in place for an extension.