Mikko Rantanen is in a reasonably great place. He’s put collectively back-to-back 100-point seasons, will get to play alongside the Hart Trophy winner in Nathan MacKinnon, and appears primed to money in on his subsequent contract. That final half places the Colorado Avalanche in a extra precarious place, as common supervisor Chris MacFarland tries to maintain all of Colorado’s superstars collectively.
The 2024-25 season would be the last 12 months of Rantanen’s present contract, and getting this deal finished will seemingly be as vital to the way forward for the Avs as MacKinnon’s extension again in 2022. These two have created one of many highest-scoring duos in all the NHL, and right here’s a take a look at why the Avalanche must get his extension signed sooner relatively than later.
Rantanen Already an Avs All-Time Nice
He’s solely 27 years previous, however it’s seemingly that Rantanen has reserved a spot for his jersey within the rafters at Ball Enviornment as soon as his taking part in days are over. He’s already within the prime eight on the franchise leaderboards for profession targets (262), assists (355), and factors (617). He’s hit no less than 100 factors in every of the final two seasons, and had 92 factors again in 2021-22 to assist Colorado win its third Stanley Cup.
Solely three different gamers in franchise historical past have posted 100 factors in back-to-back campaigns. Two are within the Corridor of Fame, and the opposite simply gained the Hart Trophy because the league’s most beneficial participant. Peter Stastny put collectively six straight 100-point seasons from 1980-86. Michel Goulet achieved the feat in 1982-83 and 1983-84, whereas MacKinnon joined Rantanen in placing up 100 factors over the past two seasons.
His final three seasons alone have put him in areas of manufacturing that just a few gamers have reached in franchise historical past. Over the previous three campaigns, Rantanen has missed simply 9 video games whereas racking up 133 targets and 301 factors. Solely Connor McDavid (408 factors), Leon Draisaitl (344), and MacKinnon (339) have scored extra throughout that span – with MacKinnon and McDavid profitable the final two MVP awards.
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Rantanen is a 12 months youthful than MacKinnon and the identical age as McDavid. There’s no indication that any of these gamers are slowing down any time quickly, and Rantanen’s numbers put him proper together with them. His 55 targets within the 2022-23 season had been solely two shy of Goulet’s single-season file of 57 in 1982-83. Rantanen’s points-per-game has additionally elevated every of the final three seasons. There’s little cause to suppose he can’t preserve that up for a couple of extra seasons, and one other 50-goal season may be looming.
Rantanen’s Contract State of affairs is Sticky
As a lot as everybody concerned with the Avalanche needs to convey Rantanen again, it’s not fairly that straightforward. Latest contracts and the success of their first-round picks have made a few of these extensions troublesome. Within the final three years, the crew has just lately re-upped the contracts of MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Valeri Nichushkin, Arturri Lehkonen, Devon Toews, and Gabriel Landeskog. All of these signings are high quality, however they’ve put MacFarland and the Avs in a salary-cap state of affairs that’s like taking part in a Jenga sport that’s 40 toes tall in a 40 mph wind. It’s getting fairly robust to stability.
Some are pointing to the contract extension the Vancouver Canucks just lately gave their star Elias Pettersson, which was an eight-year, $92.8 million deal ($11.6 million in common annual worth). This appears completely cheap for Rantanen, however the Avalanche star would possibly command much more cash – since he’s a extra prolific scorer than Pettersson. Nonetheless, that may give Colorado three gamers making greater than $9 million per 12 months, together with MacKinnon and Makar. That’s an enormous chunk of the $88 million wage cap devoted to only three gamers. That’s to not say MacKinnon, Makar, and Rantanen aren’t price it – they usually’ve earned it. They’re three of the very best gamers in franchise historical past. That makes getting the extension finished earlier than Rantanen has an opportunity so as to add extra to his resume crucial.
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The Avalanche must get this extension signed earlier than the puck drops on the 2024-25 season – very similar to they did with MacKinnon. Wrapping him up in August or September will filter out any distractions throughout the season, shield the Avs from Rantanen’s price ticket going up, and shield the participant from that very same price ticket happening as a result of damage or different circumstances. If Colorado needs to win one other Stanley Cup with this group, it’s arduous to examine them doing it with out Rantanen. Profitable franchises must make troublesome choices, however this one looks as if a no brainer.
