For six weeks, the Carolina Hurricanes were the talk of the NHL. But not all of it was for the better. Ever since the blockbuster trade that brought Mikko Rantanen to Raleigh in January, the buzz was relentless with unrelenting waves of rumors,

The NHL trade deadline is Friday afternoon, and scuttlebutt around the league has centered on Rantanen and whether the Canes will re-sign him, trade him, or keep him and try to agree on a new contract.