The reports continue to trickle in on Mikko Rantanen’s contract status.
Rantanen is in the last year of his contract and talks between his representation and the Avalanche front office have been in a stalemate recently, according to Daily Faceoffs Frank Seravalli.
But the NHL Insider also said he expects things to pick up soon.
“Things have been rather quiet on this file in the last number of weeks,” Seravalli said during an appearance on a Canadian broadcast. “But they’ve got some time and I expect it to pick up over the 4 Nations break.”
Servalli also noted where the separation is, and it’s as expected. The Avs want to keep the number at or around what Nathan MacKinnon makes while Rantanen’s camp wants to get him closer to the league high.
“The Rantanen camp has been focused on a deal in the $14 million per year range, in line with what Leon Draisaitl received,” Seravalli said. “The Avs on the other hand have been much closer to the $12.6 million at or under what MacKinnon is earning on the cap moving forward.”
As for the report earlier in the week that the Avalanche would consider trading their star forward before the trade deadline?
Seravalli doesn’t believe so.
“There seems to be a notion growing around the NHL over the last number of days and weeks that if Rantanen does not sign by the March 7th trade deadline the Colorado Avalanche will trade him. That’s not an ultimatum that’s been issued to the Rantanen camp,” Seravalli said. “I don’t think that’s a position that the Avalanche would want to be in at this point in time given how productive Rantanen has been and how much he means to that team.”
My Thoughts
Another report, another reminder that we haven’t reached a point where anyone should panic. I still believe Rantanen and the Avalanche will come to terms and he’ll be here for the long haul. The part I still struggle with is if Rantanen’s AAV is going to be above or below $12.6 million.
On one hand, Draisaitl’s contract isn’t a bad comparison for Rantanen’s agent, who also represents the Oilers star. It’s understandable why he’d be shooting for that number given the rising cap. But on the other hand, the Avs are the only team that could offer Rantanen eight years.
Can Rantanen hypothetically get more than $14 million on a seven-year deal if he actually walked to free agency? Maybe. But I doubt it’ll happen and it won’t be by much if it does. Signing a $14 million deal over seven years is $98 million.
If Rantanen signs for eight years at $100 million, he’d be at $12.5 million. Which both, gets him a higher total contract value, and keeps him below MacKinnon’s cap hit.
But I also have a feeling that Rantanen’s camp would want him to be higher than MacKinnon as a point of principal. The cap is rising and MacKinnon’s contract isn’t a standard anymore. Could $13 million do the trick? Maybe even $12.75 million? It’s anybody’s guess.
But regardless of where the number lands, I still believe Rantanen and the Avs will sign for max term. I’ll continue to believe that until there’s a reason to think otherwise. And we’re not there right now.
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