Elliotte Friedman is reporting that one huge issue (maybe the most important) within the Colorado Avalanche’s choice to commerce Mikko Rantanen was cash. Rantanen needed $14 million on an extension, however the Avs had been by no means going to present it to him. Why did he need that a lot? As a result of Edmonton Oilers’ celebrity Leon Draisaitl received that a lot.
Friedman wrote in a weblog on Friday night time after the blockbuster three-team commerce went down:
“What was Colorado’s restrict for Mikko Rantanen? Leon Draisaitl’s $14-million AAV extension and the soon-to-be-rising cap altered the negotiations. (Rantanen can be represented by the identical company as Draisaitl: Octagon.) The Avalanche simply weren’t keen to go in that space, with Nathan MacKinnon at $12.6 million and Cale Makar eligible for a ginormous extension of his personal in July 2026.”
What does that imply? Properly, as a result of Draisaitl set the brand new bar in contract negotiations and Rantanen needed to be valued on the identical degree, the Avalanche felt like they’d no alternative however to maneuver on. It’s not that they didn’t see Rantanen in the identical vein, however due to their very own cap restrictions, they had been by no means going to present Rantanen Draisaitl-like cash.
Rantanen Wished to Keep However Took a Contract Stand
Rantanen has cause to consider he must be valued in the identical method the Oilers worth Draisaitl. The previous Avalanche ahead is a clutch playoff performer who has 100-point seasons on his resume with one other one probably this season. He’s a game-changer and a difference-maker. Somebody will give him $14 million.
Pierre LeBrun reported on Saturday morning:
“Rantanen was keen to proceed negotiating all through the season with Colorado. The truth is, either side had extra contract talks this previous week. Simply couldn’t discover sufficient frequent floor. The Avs, in the long run, made the calculation they had been by no means going to get there on a quantity…”
Had Draisaitl not signed that deal in Edmonton, maybe Rantanen continues to be in Colorado. The dynamics are barely completely different as a result of the Oilers will signal Connor McDavid second, and everybody is aware of he’ll get greater than Draisaitl, Rantanen, or Nathan MacKinnon. This might have been a timing factor. Nonetheless, Draisaitl’s deal was the catalyst for all of this.
Rantanen Commerce Not Unhealthy Information For the Oilers
What’s fascinating about that is the way it really helps the Oilers. With Rantanen now out of the Western Convention, the Avalanche simply received an entire lot worse. There’s nonetheless time for Colorado to make corresponding strikes and add gamers, but it surely’s arduous to think about they get anybody as impactful as Rantanen.
It’s fascinating to see how the Oilers paying a star participant on their very own staff can not directly have an effect on one other staff’s plans. If the Avs aren’t the playoff risk they had been simply 24 hours in the past, that’s nothing however excellent news for Edmonton.
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