The Carolina Hurricanes came out on the wrong end of the NHL trade deadline in the eyes of many. After swinging a huge trade to acquire star winger Mikko Rantanen from the Colorado Avalanche late in January, the Hurricanes traded the Fin to the Dallas Stars on deadline day.

After weeks of uncertainly about his future NHL home, Rantanen was traded to Dallas by the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday, and then signed an eight-year, $96 million contract.

This wasn’t just any trade offer, but the Hurricanes had no interest in sending Rantanen to the Maple Leafs. And their reasoning had nothing to do with the players, picks, or financial aspects of the deal.