BOTTOM LINE: The Carolina Hurricanes host the Boston Bruins in Eastern Conference play. Carolina has gone 23-7-1 at home and 36-22-4 overall. The Hurricanes have a +28 scoring differential, with 197 total goals scored and 169 given up.

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.

The Carolina Hurricanes host the Boston Bruins on Thursday night, and the game airs on WRAL. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET Thursday at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh. The Hurricanes (36-22-4) are second in the Eastern Conference’s Metropolitan Division,

The Ducks likely won't trade goalie John Gibson before the NHL trade deadline because of the current situation of his two best suitors.

With the NHL’s Eastern Conference tightening up, the Hurricanes went into Sunday’s game just six points ahead of the Detroit Red Wings, who held the second wild-card playoff spot.

Entering Wednesday night, the Orange and Black are four points out of the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. The Flyers haven't made the playoffs since 2020.

The Maple Leafs tried to get Mikko Rantanen from the Hurricanes before the trade deadline before he was traded to the Stars.