Hurricanes, Maple Leafs are reportedly discussing a blockbuster trade

According to David Pagnotta, the Hurricanes would entertain a Rantanen for Knies package (with some others involved as well no doubt) and the wildest caveat of this whole situation is that GM Brad Treliving would be willing to pull it off with a long-term commitment from Rantanen.

It would be a stunning turn of events for both teams and would no doubt change the landscape of this year's playoffs as well as for years to come.

For the Maple Leafs, it would be giving up a strong contender to lead the team down the line and a potential future superstar in the league. Knies has been incredibly good in his short time with the team and he's been a vital part of the team's identity the past two years.

But he's also a restricted free agent and getting him off the books could give Carolina a bit more pause during free agency, and provides Toronto a chance to use that money to re-sign Rantanen, and perhaps one of either John Tavares or Mitch Marner (though that's the longest of shots).

In 58 games this season, Knies has 24 goals and 17 assists while adding a plus/minus of 0 in 18:25 TOI.

Speaking of Rantanen, a lot of this deal lies on his shoulders.

If he's committed to winning with the Maple Leafs and thinks they offer a better shot than the Hurricanes than he's going to take it. He wants to get paid. He has already won a Cup, but winning in Toronto means a much bigger paycheck come July.

This season, Rantanen has 27 goals and 43 assists with time spent between Colorado and Carolina.

Though adding a proven playoff producer to a team who has had a stark lack of that over the past few seasons would be a massive coup for Treliving (and more impactful than acquiring Brayden Schenn) but it's clearly going to cost a fortune.

There's nothing that says this trade is even remotely close to being a done deal, but where there's smoke, there's fire.