Check out the latest on Mikko Rantanen, Brad Marchand, Brock Nelson, Mario Ferraro and more in a special evening edition of the NHL Rumor Mill before the March 7 trade deadline.

NO SIGN & TRADE FOR MIKKO RANTANEN?

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the Carolina Hurricanes haven’t granted teams permission to discuss a contract extension with Mikko Rantanen. A sign-and-trade scenario is off the table for now, but that could change before Friday’s deadline.

Rantanen is expected to be in the Hurricanes lineup for Thursday’s game against the Boston Bruins.

LeBrun followed up this evening claiming the Dallas Stars, Florida Panthers, Vegas Golden Knights and Los Angeles Kings have shown interest, among others. He doesn’t see the Hurricanes letting this go late into deadline day before deciding to keep or trade him.

Darren Dreger said teams that are sellers claim the uncertainty over Rantanen is what’s holding up the market.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The fact the Hurricanes aren’t sitting out Rantanen the day before the trade deadline suggests they haven’t received any tempting offers.

BRUINS STILL GETTING OFFERS FOR BRAD MARCHAND

TSN: Chris Johnston reports the Boston Bruins are continuing to discuss a contract extension with team captain Brad Marchand. However, they’re still open to the possibility of trading the 36-year-old winger. Teams are calling about Marchand and aren’t being told “no” right now.

Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand (NHL Images).

Johnston followed up by claiming there’s a feeling around the league that Marchand could be moved to a team out west, but there’s no confirmation he’ll be traded.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bruins general manager Don Sweeney should be open to all options. It’s unlikely he’ll move Marchand, but a club may pitch an irresistible offer.

LATEST LEAFS SPECULATION

TSN: Darren Dreger reports the Toronto Maple Leafs remain focused on center and defense. He believes they’re still interested in St. Louis Blues center Brayden Schenn. Other centers potentially available include Brock Nelson of the New York Islanders and Scott Laughton of the Philadelphia Flyers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Given his salary-cap constraints, Leafs GM Brad Treliving will have to get creative to land Schenn, Nelson or Laughton. That means moving a contract, convincing one of those teams to retain some salary, or swinging a three-team deal to spread the cap dollars around. That’s assuming Treliving can come up with a tempting trade package for one of them.

Placing forward Ryan Reaves on waivers is one way of doing it. If he clears, the Leafs will free up $1.15 million by stashing him in the minors.

UNCERTAINTY PERSISTS REGARDING BROCK NELSON

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports there is no indication the New York Islanders intend to trade Brock Nelson. GM Lou Lamoriello still wants to re-sign the 33-year-old center. The New Jersey Devils, Maple Leafs, Colorado Avalanche and Winnipeg Jets are believed to be among the clubs interested in Nelson.

UPDATE ON THE DEVILS

TSN: Chris Johnston reports the New Jersey Devils still have plenty of cap space to pursue a forward after acquiring defenseman Brian Dumoulin from the Anaheim Ducks. They’re interested in Brock Nelson and Ryan O’Reilly, though it’s unlikely he wants to move on from the Nashville Predators.

LATEST ON THE SHARKS

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the San Jose Sharks are listening to offers for defenseman Mario Ferraro. The 26-year-old defenseman has a year remaining on his contract with an average annual value of $3.25 million.

LeBrun indicates it doesn’t mean the Sharks intend to move him. However, with the shrinking number of defensemen in the trade market, they want to gauge his value.

DAILY FACEOFF: cited TSN’s Chris Johnston reporting the Sharks have held center Luke Kunin out of the lineup from Thursday’s game against the Colorado Avalanche for trade-related purposes.

KRAKEN SIT OUT TANEV FOR TRADE-RELATED REASONS

DAILY FACEOFF: cited Kate Shefte of The Seattle Times reporting Kraken winger Brandon Tanev will not be playing tonight against the Nashville Predators for trade-related reasons.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kraken were reportedly willing to retain up to half of Tanev’s $3.5 million cap hit to facilitate a trade. Tanev, 33, is slated to become a UFA on July 1.