This could be a very uncertain summer for the Colorado Avalanche, but securing a little long-term certainty with a new contract for Mikko Rantanen might be the best move the club can make. Rantanen…
Mikko Rantanen of the Colorado Avalanche chews his mouthguard during the third period against the Chicago Blackhawks at Ball Arena in Denver on Monday, March 4, 2024. This could be a very uncertain summer for the Colorado Avalanche, but securing a little long-term certainty might be the best move the club can make.
When it comes to the best wings in the NHL, Rantanen is on the shortlist. Artemi Panarin and Nikita Kucherov have more points than him in the past three years. David Pastrnak has 15 more goals and one less point. Matthew Tkachuk has the same number of points, but 25 fewer goals. Seven guys signed for more than what Rantanen costs per season in his current deal, but three of them — including Kucherov — are all on the same contract .
Eight years would take Rantanen through his age-36 season. There will be some risk during the back half of the deal. Jamie Benn has had a couple of not-great years near the end of his eight-year deal, though he was very good two seasons ago and the Stars have developed a new young core to supplement the older guys — something the Avs will need to do in the latter half of this decade.
The bigger picture is simple: This never works. Teams do not trade world-class players unless they have to, either because of a trade request, refusal to sign long-term, or the club is not a contender and needs to rebuild.Colorado Avalanche |When was the last time an NHL team traded a great player and won the Cup in relatively short order? The answer is Boston, which traded Phil Kessel in 2009 and won two years later.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Avalanche Journal: Gabe Landeskog, Valeri Nichushkin highlight biggest questions as offseason beginsChanges are coming, but what the Avs can do before next year is tied to the two big unknowns
Read more »
Avalanche Journal: Colorado needs its value-rebuilding factory to produce the next Jonathan DrouinAvs will be bargain hunting to try and fill some lineup holes this summer
Read more »
Keeler: Avalanche’s Mikko Rantanen is mad. Yo, Dallas Stars? In Colorado, last thing you want to do is make a Moose mad.If Avalanche winger Mikko Rantanen gets another pass on a plate from Cale Makar, history says he’s going to bury it in the back of the net.
Read more »
Avalanche Journal: Colorado has a massive advantage over the field in Stanley Cup experience, but what is that worth?NHL franchises covet players with extensive Stanley Cup Playoffs experience like someone walking through the desert yearns for water.
Read more »
Business Journal Exclusive: SA ‘close’ to landing DC flights, Congressman Castro saysCongress could approve new legislation in a matter of days, freeing up more slots for flights to and from DCA, and San Antonio has some high-ranking firepower fighting for one of those routes.
Read more »
From management to coaching to culture, the Avalanche has crafted Stanley Cup contender around homegrown starsGeneral manager Chris MacFarland and his staff have an incredible core of homegrown players to build around, but the Colorado Avalanche has also needed to look externally to fill significant needs.
Read more »