The Carolina Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs nearly made the blockbuster of all blockbusters at this year's Trade Deadline. According to a post-deadline report from NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, the pair of Eastern Conference powers discussed a deal that would have swapped superstar forwards.

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.

Sellers around the NHL from Philadelphia to San Jose, Mikko Rantanen and the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers were winners at the trade deadline