Could Mikko Rantanen be on the move again?

Mikko Rantanen may not be long for the Carolina Hurricanes.

According to multiple reports, the buzz during the recent 4 Nations all-star event is that the former Colorado Avalanche standout could once again be on the move in advance of the NHL’s March 7 trade deadline.

“The chatter over the last few days around 4 Nations was a lot of talk surrounding his future and it not likely being in Raleigh,” David Pagnotta of NHL Network and Sirius XM NHL Radio said on The Fourth Period podcast this week.

“Now, things can certainly change and this is a lot of speculative talk, but it is important to note money won’t be the factor here. Carolina is willing to give him the big bucks that he’s looking for in that $14-million range,” Pagnotta continued. “So, that’s not an issue. It’s really going to come to Mikko Rantanen being comfortable staying there long-term, and there are a lot of people around the league — a lot of chatter among teams — doubting that’s the case.”

And if Rantanen doesn’t want to stay with the ‘Canes, “they will explore the market on him to recoup the assets that they gave up to get him,” Pagnotta said.

That could possibly that could put Rantanen right back in the Western Conference, as a potential postseason obstacle in front of the Avs as they attempt to win their second Stanley Cup in three years.

This is due to the fact that the trade market for Rantanen could be wide open, resulting from the structure of Rantanen’s contract in the wake of the three-team trade that sent him to Carolina meant that the Hurricanes inherited a relatively low salary-cap hit for the balance of the season — $4.625 million.

If a team trades for Rantanen between now and March 7, its cap hit would be just $2.3 million.

“I do think him as a rental — it opens it up for almost anybody to go get him,” explained Elliotte Friedman of NHL Network, SportsNet and Hockey Night in Canada on the recent 32 Thoughts podcast. “You’re going to be able to find a way to handle Rantanen at $2.3 million.”

Some teams Friedman rattled off as potential possibilities were the Dallas Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vegas Golden Knights and Winnipeg Jets. Dallas, Vegas and Winnipeg all sit ahead of the Avalanche in the Western Conference table.

“If he’s not going to be willing to sign an extension with Carolina, who else is going to be willing to do it? We’ll see. There’s a lot of variables here,” Friedman said. “But I think the thing with Rantanen is — if he’s available — there will be teams that say, ‘We can’t sign him, but we’ll want to do him as a rental.’

“And I think it could be good teams.”

In six games with the Hurricanes since the trade, Rantanen has a goal and an assist — well off the pace of 1.3 points per game he had with the Avalanche this season. He’s averaged more than a point per game in all but one year since the 2017-18 campaign.

The early returns haven’t been great for Rantanen in Raleigh, and Carolina has lost four of six games with him in the lineup. And now it seems possible there won’t be a chance for much more than that.