The Carolina Hurricanes haven't had much luck when acquiring stars to help get their team over the hump. They traded for Jake Guentzel before the 2024 playoffs, but he decided to sign with the Tampa Bay Lightning after the Hurricanes were swept in the Eastern Conference Final. Then, they traded for Mikko Rantanen this past season, but he was so insistent on re-signing there that they flipped him again before the trade deadline.
It isn't easy to convince players to sign in Raleigh, which is quickly becoming a problem. They reportedly had a deal in place to trade Rantanen for Mitch Marner at the trade deadline, but the rumor was that Marner decided not to waive his no-trade clause. Now, it looks like they could attempt to take another run at Marner in free agency.
From the outset, it seems highly unlikely that Marner would agree to sign a long-term deal in Carolina after not wanting to waive his no-trade clause for the team during the regular season. While Carolina aligns with Marner's apparent desire to play in a less demanding market, it does not align with his eagerness to join the Western Conference.
Money is a good motivator when it comes to signing free agents, so it's impossible to rule out Marner to Carolina without knowing the salary they are offering. However, considering the Hurricanes' history of being unwilling to overspend, the Marner-Carolina connection seems unlikely. It'll now be up to owner Tom Dundon to decide whether he will get out his chequebook and land a big fish.