The NHL trade deadline is only a week away, and there will be plenty of activity between now and then. In the days leading up to March 7, some marquee names will be in the news as teams try to load up for the postseason.

Mikko Rantanen could soon make a decision on his future with the Carolina Hurricanes amid rumors and contract negotiations. Several NHL teams are following the situation closely.

The Avalanche are not going to sit on their hands at the NHL trade deadline despite dealing away Mikko Rantanen in January.

TSN: It’s still not known if Mikko Rantanen will want to partake in contract extension talks with the Carolina Hurricanes. Chris Johnston said that Rantanen’s camp are expected in the next few days to let the Hurricanes know how they’d like to proceed with things.

Do the Hurricanes plan on trading Mikko Rantanen just over a month after acquiring him? One ESPN analyst weighed in on the multi-million dollar question.

The Mikko Rantanen experiment hasn't worked with the Carolina Hurricanes, and he could be on the move again before the trade deadline.

Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: Ottawa is a player who could use a Mikko Rantanen at this point. Frankly, the Senators need healthy bodies more than anyone. With Brady Tkachuk, Shane Pinto, and Josh Norris all currently sidelined, Ottawa finds itself precariously close to the last wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

According to Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli, it looks like Carolina is leaning toward keeping Rantanen in tow through the end of the season whether or not he commits to signing a contract extension before the March 7 trade deadline.