Reports: Stars, Hurricanes Trade Hits Roadblock

Stars-Hurricanes Trade Faces Major Setback

The anticipated blockbuster trade between the Carolina Hurricanes and Dallas Stars has hit a significant obstacle.

Late-night reports revealed that the Hurricanes and Stars were in the midst of negotiating a major trade, with Mikko Rantanen, the star winger Carolina acquired just a month ago, potentially joining the Dallas roster to reunite with his Finnish teammates.

However, the deal has encountered a serious roadblock. According to NHL insider Darren Peng, the key issue lies in the pending contract extension. The Stars are attempting to finalize a new deal with Rantanen as part of the trade, but the two sides have yet to reach an agreement on terms for what is expected to be a massive contract. Peng shared the latest updates on his X account, explaining that the deal is currently stalled.

“There is no deal between Dallas and Carolina for Mikko Rantanen,” Peng tweeted. “It looks like Carolina might have to reassess their options. That doesn’t mean a deal or extension with Dallas won’t happen, but it’s not happening right now.”

This roadblock could potentially bring the trade talks between the two teams to an end. Negotiating Rantanen’s contract before the NHL Trade Deadline has proven to be a challenge for Carolina, who had been trying since they first acquired him from the Colorado Avalanche. The Hurricanes were met with a firm “no” earlier this week.

Now, the Stars are facing a similar dilemma. Without a contract extension in place, it appears the trade may not come to fruition.

If Dallas can finalize this deal, they would immediately become the frontrunner in the Western Conference, surpassing even the top-ranked Winnipeg Jets. Rantanen would bring another high-level playmaker to the Stars, boosting their offense to potentially the most potent in the league.

If the Stars are unable to secure the trade and contract extension, they still have alternatives. With plenty of salary cap room thanks to Tyler Seguin’s long-term injury reserve status, the team could explore other options as the Trade Deadline looms.