Mikko Rantanen Evaluates Carolina Hurricanes for Long-Term Commitment

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports that the Carolina Hurricanes are actively pursuing an extension for forward Mikko Rantanen. Rantanen’s transition to Carolina has been anything but typical; he was taken by surprise by the trade and shortly after had to participate in the Four Nations tournament. During the break, the Hurricanes’ management engaged with his agent, Andy Scott, and presented an extensive proposal.

This proposal included a comprehensive outline of their financial offer, their vision for the team’s future, and how they see Rantanen fitting into their plans. The process has been described as a two-phase evaluation for Rantanen.

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Phase one involves Rantanen assessing the organization, the team dynamics, and his potential lifestyle in Carolina over the long term. Only after this phase will discussions about the contract take place.

According to LeBrun, Rantanen is currently still in this initial phase and requires additional time to make a decision. Whether this will happen before the trade deadline remains uncertain. As of now, there’s no indication that the Hurricanes have reached out to other teams regarding Rantanen, although other teams likely have inquired about his situation.

Montreal Canadiens and Jake Evans Consider Trade Options Amidst Contract Discrepancies

TSN: As of Tuesday, updates regarding Montreal Canadiens and pending unrestricted free agent Jake Evans remain scarce. According to Pierre LeBrun, negotiations continue to stall, and rumors suggest that Evans could be on the trading block. However, this situation can shift rapidly with a single phone call.

The Canadiens are not inclined to settle for a third- or fourth-round draft pick. With Evans possessing an affordable cap hit of $1.7 million, the team is likely expecting at least a second-round pick in return.

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There’s speculation on what kind of return the Canadiens could achieve if they package Jake Evans with Joel Armia in a trade deal.

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