I don’t know what the Hurricanes are playing at. A team that has a window of opportunity must take advantage of it, even if it means losing players on the free agent market afterwards.

The Carolina Hurricanes have been exploring the trade market for Mikko Rantanen after not getting a definitive answer from the winger, and a new contender has emerged in the now financially flexible Florida Panthers.

The Hurricanes are gauging the market for the star winger, and while an in-division trade is unlikely, the Rangers make sense as a partner.