Jared Bednar talks ‘really tough day’ and trading ‘good friend’ Rantanen
Jan 25, 2025, 5:27 PM
All the key members of the Colorado Avalanche are reacting to the stunning Mikko Rantanen trade, and that includes head coach Jared Bednar.
Bednar met with the media after the Avs lost 3-1 to the Bruins on Saturday, but that wasn’t what anyone wanted to talk about. The fact Colorado traded a superstar like Rantanen in the middle of a Stanley Cup window was top of mind.
“Yeah, tough day. Really tough day. Like you lose a good friend, good teammate, great player. It’s hard,” Bednar said.
Rantanen reportedly wanted $14 million a year from the Avalanche in a contract extensions. Colorado was more comfortable going around $12.5 million a year, and Rantanen’s camp wouldn’t budge. That number would’ve kept him below superstar Nathan MacKinnon in salary, something MacKinnon said he wasn’t worried about.
Bednar gets all that, but the move is still hard to process.
“I understand the business side of things. It’s a two-way street and they weren’t able to get a deal done. Teams are calling, and it’s business, you know? You gotta get what you can and I think we got some good players that can come in and help us, but it doesn’t make it any easier. It’s tough to see Mikko go,” Bednar said.
Those players are Martin Necas and Jack Drury from the Carolina Hurricanes. Necas has put up some good numbers this year and Drury is a depth guy, but neither is Rantanen.
Bednar said he spoke with the team pregame about the move, needing to address the elephant in the room.
“It impacts all of them. Their good friend’s leaving. I also think they all understand the business side of it. Our team does, Mikko does. It’s never easy but I think you’ve got to address it a little bit for sure. Especially with a player like Mikko,” Bednar said.
Avs GM Chris MacFarland also spoke on why he made the trade, as did MacKinnon and others players. Considering it’s been less than 24 hours, everyone still sounds pretty shocked.
Now, it’s up to Jared Bednar to rally the Avalanche and hopefully salvage this season. And a player like Rantanen isn’t walking through that door.
