Star forward Mikko Rantanen at the center of very controversial rumour!
Could this insider know more than anyone else?
There are multiple stars playing on expiring contracts this season and one of them is Colorado Avalanche’s Mikko Rantanen. He is playing the the final year of a six-year, $55.5 million contract that comes with a $9.25 million AAV, and is expected to get a significant raise on his next deal. Since the start of 2024-25, rumours have suggested that Rantanen could seeking up to $14M per season.
Sure, the Avs could manage to get that under their cap, but some fans and pundits wonder should Rantanen make more than Nathan MacKinnon, who makes $12.6 million on annual average value?
More questions are being asked with the trade deadline approaching whether the Avalanche will be comfortable with waiting until this summer to re-sign Rantanen at the risk of losing him for nothing once free agency opens on July 1st.
Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports has sparked intense speculation when he dressed the list of 25 players that could get moved by the deadline on March 7th, placing Rantanen at number 20 with the following explanation (translated from French):
“If the Avalanche does not consider themselves able to accommodate Rantanen’s demands, they could therefore be inclined to get most of his value on the trade market instead of letting him slip away on July 1.”
Rantanen, who has been eligible to sign an extension since July 1 but has yet to do so, has mentioned in the past how he is not looking to talk about his contract until after the season ends.
The Avs might not have a choice at the beginning of March…
A trade involving the Avalanche superstar would be a bombshell in the NHL, he who has put up 24 goals and 58 points in 41 games so far this season.
However, Colorado sits in the first Wild Card spot in the Western conference and if ever they start falling off of playoff contention, they could make tough choices… and who knowns a blockbuster trade involving Rantanen!
