Elliotte Friedman Reveals the Player Carolina Wanted in Failed Mikko Rantanen Trade with the Kings

Many organizations were interested in acquiring Mikko Rantanen from the Carolina Hurricanes at the trade deadline, but the Dallas Stars won the derby and signed the former Colorado Avalanche superstar to an eight-year, $12 million AAV deal.

This left many teams with a hole in their top six, which they were looking to fill at the deadline. Among them, the Los Angeles Kings were rumored to be looking to add a top forward. Before turning to Andrei Kuzmenko for their offensive needs, the team was pushing to get Rantanen.

However, the price asked by the Hurricanes was too high for the Kings.

In a new development, Elliotte Friedman revealed what the Hurricanes were looking to get in return from the Kings and that the Kings would've said no.

On the latest episode of 32 Thoughts, Friedman announced that Rantanen didn't want to sign a long-term contract in L.A., but even if he had, the Canes were asking for Quinton Byfield in return-too heavy a price for the Kings.

This season, the 22-year-old, 6-foot-5 forward scored 17 goals and 23 assists in 66 games, with a +11 rating. He plays an important role with the team, spending time on the ice at five-on-five, on the power play, and on the penalty kill as well.

Adding Rantanen at his expense would've created another hole in the Kings' lineup at the center position. Against teams like the Edmonton Oilers or the Vegas Golden Knights, you can't afford such a weakness, especially in the playoffs.

With the Stars, Rantanen has been great, scoring four points in four games on the top line with Jason Robertson and Roope Hintz.

As for Kuzmenko, he hasn't scored any points with the Kings yet in six games.