Although plenty of new information has emerged regarding the trade that sent Mikko Rantanen from the Colorado Avalanche to the Carolina Hurricanes, we hadn’t heard from the player himself. In an article by Corey Masisak of The Denver Post, Rantanen finally spoke about the trade from his point of view.
One of the biggest takeaways from the interview with Masisak is that he confirmed he was willing to take a discount to stay with the Avalanche organization, which had been widely reported in the days following the trade. Masisak quoted Rantanen saying, “I was ready to take a significant discount for my market value. We had some chats, like a couple days before. Then they traded me. That’s what happened. That’s why I didn’t expect what happened.”
Despite being blindsided by the trade, it doesn’t appear Rantanen is taking it too personally. Even though he had never been traded in his career, he acknowledged one of the realities of his profession when he said, “I don’t know. I didn’t know we were in a rush. That’s what I felt like. That’s my honest opinion. But it’s business and I understand. They’re trying to think what’s best for them and you’ve got to understand that. You’ve got to understand they are only doing the business how they think it is good for their future.”
Regarding the potential extension, several analysts and pundits have suggested that Rantanen’s starting point was Leon Draisaitl’s eight-year, $112 million extension with the Edmonton Oilers. Still, provided the added context of the Avalanche’s lack of desire to pay anyone more than Nathan MacKinnon’s $12.6MM salary, it was going to be hard to resolve even if Rantanen was willing to take a pay cut.
Moving on to one of the facilitators of the blockbuster deal, the general manager of the Chicago Blackhawks, Kyle Davidson, spoke about his team’s involvement in the deal. In an interview with Scott Powers of The Athletic (Subscription Required), Davidson was quoted saying, “In waiting, you run the risk of things like injury, (and) the role was diminishing almost by the game. It just wasn’t heading towards a way that was going to maximize or enhance value. In moving then, we moved at full price and held (salary) on the other player involved. It just didn’t make sense to wait and not really get a better return later on.”
Davidson was referencing Chicago’s inclusion in the deal beyond retaining half of Rantanen’s remaining salary. The Blackhawks traded former MVP Taylor Hall whose ice time had been precipitously dropping over the last several games. The fourth-year general manager wasn’t convinced Chicago would get a better offer had they waited closer until the trade deadline.
I quibble with the wording “pay cut” on a prospective Rantanen offer. He was going to receive a significant raise by either measurement, but the definition of “discount” was where they differed. By trading him, the Avalanche may have harmed this year’s potential result. However they make the decisions as the player noted; it’s always wonderful to read the writers here with the theme of “players deserve more” angle. Better to save that theory (they always end up getting it unfortunately) for people like teachers, health care professionals & law enforcement…
Apples and oranges. People plop down big money to see these elite players play and compete. Nobody is buying season tickets to watch a high school algebra teacher teach for a school year. That, plus the fact the average major sports team owner has as much (if not more) money to spend on employees—and they have a lot less of them to pay as well.
I don’t disagree that teachers, health care workers and LE need to be paid more, but they’re not entertainment.
The old tired professional athlete to everyday Joe comparison.
If you want those professions to make millions you’ll be working for free because you’ll be taxed 100%.
Or Bezos could pay any at all.
With all the liberal indoctrination that goes on in our school systems, George Soros is the one who would probably pay them.
Could the AVS get rid of some dead weight and bring Mikko back. Unless the CBA has conditions in it for stuff like this.
If they were serious about bringing him back at any cost, they wouldn’t have done this. Based on Mikko’s comments, he wouldn’t be thrilled about that kind of arrangement since the front office was clear with him about how they felt.
Rantanen can sign anywhere this summer starting July 1st.
As an Avs fan, it would be amazing “pipe dream” with the increased salary cap if the Avs could resign Rants during the off season?!
Never going to happen based on how they treated him by blindsiding him. No problem with trade just not a professional way to do it.
Is Landeskog coming back – yes or no? That is a lot of LTIR money to come back on the books if yes and probably forced the conversation.
How much will Makar make in 2 years. Can’t have McKinnon, Rants, Makar, and Landeskog getting $50 million for 4 players per year. maybe you can.
Landeskog is done, Management just isn’t ready to call that press conference.
His agent tried to play it like Draisatl, and that cost Rantanen a spot on the team…fire your agent Mikko, Edmonton is a desperate market, not Colorado
The problem with that approach is that he’s the third best player on the team. If anyone has the momentum to take Colorado to the cleaners, it’s Makar. They’re wisely avoiding the loyalty trap Toronto fell into.
Edmonton is a desperate market?
Maybe the Oilers understand that whenever you trade a generational player you lose the trade.
There is simply no way you replace Leon – who is a leading scorer in the league year after year, is durable and takes all their key faceoffs.
Plus he is beloved in the City. You need to have players that will drive interest. It’s becoming clear he will be in the Hall of Fame.
Trading Rants eliminates any chance the Avs had to win the Cup this year.
So a team makes a trade, It comes as a shock to some, Feelings may have been hurt, And on and on, I bring this up solely because of the term (fall out) The term itself in the context of a hockey trade seems over the top. Fall out seems more like a term an author, Or news reporter would use in describing a nuclear disaster. Just saying.
Sounds like a Kami Harris word salad! LOL
Lol! Very true.
Hey I hope he hits the market. If im montreal and I badly wanna keep laine long term I go after rantanen hes exactly who you want slafkovsky to become who better then to have slaf watch then the tru power forward himself. They’ve been looking for power forwards for years and have failed to develop draft and trade for one. Slaf still has a future but right now there’s no one on the team with his style of play big body great puck protector decent speed. I would rather our young power forward learn from rantanen then someone like anderson..
Plus add the rumors that laine would be thrilled to team up with his old buddy ehlers again.. a laine dach ehlers caufield suzuki rantanen plus a 3rd line of slaf hage demidov. They could roll out 3 scary lines nightly
So let me get this straight. If I read the article right they’re saying Davidson facilitated the whole deal to get a 3rd round pick for eating like 5 million bucks? Correct me if I’m wrong but does that sound as dumb to everybody else as it does to me? Or have I finally had a stroke and lost my mind?
Not quite. Chicago ate $5M of Rantanen’s cap hit. In actual money I’d think it’s about $1.8M (Rantanen’s actual salary is $6M this season, and he already played 49 games for the Avalanche). PLUS Chicago gave away Hall in the deal.
Correction: $1.2M in actual money
… then he should’ve taken the discount and stayed in Denver. There’s more to this story.
Rantanen wanted more than what Colorado could afford, It was only after the transaction that Rantanen said he’d take the discount. One final punch in the nose after his departure.
Bottom line, Gretzky played for four different teams.
If the Canes cant sign him next month, Rantanen to the Blackhawks for Bedard. Who says no?
Everyone?
BTW. You PGD?
Yeah the Hawks are going to move on from Bedard after 1 and a half years. Was that even worth the time to type out?
Rantanen will absolutely be a better player during Bedard’s peak years. A Hall of Famer in his prime.
That remains to be seen don’t it? As soon as the Hawks get Bedard somebody to play with anyway. Plus Bedard has like 15 peak years to go. I’ll take him. LMAO
I’m with you, Mike. No way the Hawks even consider that idea.
My problem with that trade is just the age difference.
Let’s think on this…
Chicago, a team in the bottom of league standings and no threat to compete for the playoffs, trades a generational, blue chip prospect for a rental of an upcoming UFA?
Instead of keeping Bedard and playing out the season and then using their ample cap space to make a run at Rantanen in the offseason, they trade Bedard and get Rantanen and convince him to re-sign?
I just want to make sure I’m getting this right.