The Carolina Hurricanes and Dallas Stars have agreed to a trade in principle that will send superstar forward Mikko Rantanen to Texas on the condition that a contract extension is reached prior to Friday’s trade deadline, sources told Daily Faceoff.

That contract extension was not completed in the overnight hours and the two sides were expected to resume talks again on Friday morning. The trade itself was agreed upon around midnight on the eve of the deadline with the Hurricanes then granting the Stars and Rantanen’s camp permission to begin negotiating.

Sources cautioned against the immediate assumption a deal will be brokered. Even though Dallas has an inherent advantage as a locale with no state income tax, the Stars had not hit Rantanen’s number in their first pass. This trade is contingent on Rantanen being signed long-term; Dallas is not willing to make the deal under the same parameters if Rantanen is a rental.

The trade package from Dallas to Carolina was not immediately clear. The Hurricanes were seeking roster pieces that would make immediately improve their chances to chase a Stanley Cup if they were passing up a playoff run with a true gamebreaker.

If Rantanen and the Stars strike an accord, it would bring to a close one of the most fascinating deadline sagas in recent NHL history with a Top 15 player in the world changing hands twice over a five-week period of time. Carolina acquired Rantanen from Colorado on Jan. 24 in a blockbuster deal that included Martin Necas, Jack Drury and a second-round pick.

Rantanen, 28, collected just two goals and four assists for six points in 13 games as a Hurricane, including Thursday night’s win over Boston when Carolina rolled the dice and left him in the lineup despite ongoing trade talks. Sources said the Hurricanes canvassed the league in recent days since they were notified that Rantanen was unwilling to sign an extension in Carolina prior to the deadline, leaving the team to weigh whether it would be best to recoup assets or gear up for Cup pursuit with him knowing his stay might be short-term.

Rantanen potentially moving on wasn’t for lack of trying or commitment on Carolina’s part. Sources said the Canes offered Rantanen a franchise record-setting 8-year, $100-plus million offer, believed to be in the range of $12.75 million per year – more than his former running mate Nathan MacKinnon is earning and approximately $1 million more per season than Colorado’s best offer. Because of Dallas’ no state tax advantage, the number on a may be lower for Rantanen on paper if a new deal is reached with the Stars, even though the after-tax net would be significantly more. The Stars have never signed a player to a deal with an eight-figure AAV in their franchise history.

For Carolina, this trade would add speculation about whether or not they can actually re-sign top level players, given that they acquired the premier player available last year in Jake Guentzel and he walked on July 1. For Dallas, Rantanen would re-order the balance of power in the Western Conference with a team that has been knocking on the door for years, reunite him with another collection of proud Finnish players – and provide nightmare fuel for the Avalanche, who would now suddenly have to contend with one of the best playoff performers of his generation in the Central Division bracket.