It’s unlikely Mikko Rantanen is traded from Colorado, and do they wish to add?
Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet was on NHL Community Radio Morning Skate with Scott Laughlin and Gord Stellick and was requested concerning the Colorado Avalanche and what they’ll add on the deadline. As Friedman said the larger concern would be the negotiations with Mikko Rantanen.
NHLRumors.com Transcriptions
Scott Laughlin: “Elliotte Friedman right here with us for an additional couple of moments right here on the NHL Morning Skate as we proceed waiting for 4 video games developing tonight within the Nationwide Hockey League. Winnipeg and Colorado is an fascinating one too, and Fridge we had Mark Moser on with us within the final hour and speaking about what the Avalanche may be in search of as nicely by way of upgrades.
Look, they’ve had guys come out and in of the lineup, and so they definitely wish to simply have everyone again wholesome. We’re unsure about (Gabriel) Landeskog. Issues look good with him figuring out, and then you definitely discover out, hey, possibly Chris MacFarland, hoping, fingers crossed that possibly it’ll be playoff time when he comes again.
NHL Rumors: Could Mikko Rantanen Make More Than Nathan MacKinnon in Colorado?
I introduced up Nazem Kadri and simply how integral he was to the Avalanche profitable the Stanley Cup a few years in the past. Nonetheless, bear in mind you on the ice and speaking with him proper after they gained that cup in ’22. Do you continue to assume that the Colorado Avalanche are going to look to deal with both the again finish or possibly even focus slightly bit extra firmly on that second-line heart place?”
Elliotte Friedman: “I bought to assume they’re going to look onerous at that second-line heart place. I began listening to some issues like Mittelstadt has been struggling. I’ve been watching slightly bit extra. They’re giving the inform, proper, Scott. Their, they’ve tried another issues there now, like Mikko Rantanen right here and there sometimes. So that offers me, they’re not proud of what they’ve bought there.
I believe the most important factor concerning the aAvalanche is, how are they going to deal with the Rantanen? What are they going to do right here? Now, there’s been some experiences that possibly they deal Rantanen. I believe they’re going to attend to see how this all performs out round March seventh. I believe that’s slightly bit untimely. Nonetheless, there’s no query to me, Scott, that this has grow to be a much bigger problem, and possibly the primary factor on the Avalanche radar pre-March 7 is, how are they going to deal with Rantanen.
NHL Rumors: Mikko Rantanen Will Get Top Five Money on His Next Contract
The factor is, is that I used to be speaking to a different govt the opposite day, and we have been chatting about it, and he mentioned, You understand what I might do? And I mentioned, What’s that? He goes, I might pay him. I am going, Actually? He goes, Yeah, even when it meant I needed to blow my wage construction, I might pay him. And I mentioned, Okay, I perceive why. And he goes as a result of you possibly can’t change these guys.
And so I believe that Rantanen is the elite of the elite, proper? So to me, the most important query the Avalanche have isn’t second-line heart or not D, I believe you’re speaking a couple of foundational choice about your hockey staff, and that’s, what are you doing with Rantanen?”
NHLRumors.com Notice: As RG Media reported over the weekend, the talks with Rantanen will go all the way down to the wire. This could possibly be a last-minute scenario. Buying and selling him isn’t on the desk as a result of they’d be a worse staff in the event that they did transfer him out. The fact for the Avalanche is Rantanen in all probability will get greater than Nathan MacKinnon.
