Feud erupts in Colorado as things go from bad to worse for the Avalanche…

The 2024-25 season is well underway and the Colorado Avalanche is one of three teams that is yet to register a win. The Avs had Stanley Cup aspirations heading into the season, but can’t seem to find it in them to get a win. They face the Anaheim Ducks later tonight.

Some things are out of the Avalanche’s control as the team’s been dealing with injuries. Forwards Jonathan Drouin (upper body), Artturi Lehkonen (shoulder) and Valeri Nichushkin (suspension and NHL/NHLPA assistance program) aren’t expected back for awhile while the status of captain Gabriel Landeskog has not changed following knee cartilage surgery in 2022.

However, one stat does not lie in the Avs allowing a league-high 25 goals against. Goalie Alexandar Georgiev, who has started all four games, has recorded an .802 save percentage and 5.79 goals-against average and does not seem able to bring consistency to his game.

On top of that these bad news, Nick Kypreos of the Toronto Star reports that one of their best players does not seem to be getting the respect and recognition he deserves. Kypreos speaks about the contract negotiation for Mikko Rantanen, and how his team compares him to Nathan MacKinnon and how they consider he may not deserve his price tag.

“Star winger Mikko Rantanen and the Avalanche don’t appear to be close to an extension. The feeling out there is the Avs are reluctant to get his average salary anywhere near Nathan MacKinnon’s $12.6 million (U.S.) at this point in time. They are also hoping to have a clearer picture on captain Gabriel Landeskog’s health and future before deciding how high they need to go to retain Rantanen.”

Rantanen can become an unrestricted free agent after this season, as he enters the final season of a six-year, $55,500,000 contract, and has always been to me one of the best players on the Colorado roster. His impact on the Avalanche deserves a raise, though I understand that he might not win an argument in getting more or as much as MacKinnon.

However, with this feud added to the mix in an already unhappy group at this point in the season, Rantanen’s camp may be using the possibility of free agency next summer to pressure Avalanche management. If that’s the case, we could see some significant trade rumours emerge if Colorado feels it cannot secure the star forward long term.

I’m not saying at this time that the Avalanche is close to losing Rantanen, but I’m sure the pressure of a new deal and the ongoing negotiations do not help the atmosphere in the dressing room or in the front office…