Report: Avalanche and Mikko Rantanen weren’t far off in extension talks
Mar 12, 2025, 1:54 PM | Updated: 1:54 pm
Mikko Rantanen may have ticked off half the hockey world, but he finally got the contract he was looking for, signing an eight-year deal worth $96 million—coming out to $12 million a year.
The trade to Dallas and subsequent extension by the Stars was a double shock to Colorado Avalanche fans. He was shipped out of Colorado in January to Carolina for a package centered around Martin Necas. The trade shook hockey fans in Denver since Rantanen was beloved as a Stanley Cup Champion. He recorded 681 points (287 goals, 394 assists) in 619 career games with Colorado, ranking him seventh on the franchise’s all-time lists in points and assists and sixth in goals. He also had 101 points (34 goals, 67 assists) in 81 playoff contests. And the best had come recently for Rantanen, tallying consecutive 100-point campaigns before the trade.
The sticking point that led to the deal may have been just $500,000 a year over the eight seasons—or $4 million total. That’s what the Daily Faceoff has reported, but it could be spin or revisionist history.
Before Colorado dealt Rantanen, there were reports he was sought to become one of the NHL’s highest-paid players at as much as $14 million per season. So the $2 million pay cut to play for Dallas after not accepting comparable deals in Colorado seems strange, no matter the tax situation. All the while, the Avs likely didn’t want to give him more than Nathan MacKinnon at $12.6 million a year. But maybe Mikko just overplayed his hand and is now trying to save face with a franchise for which he should be a legend. It’s likely he could’ve asked for much more and didn’t budge until he left Denver. No matter, now he plays on one of Colorado’s biggest rivals and will be there for some time.
“The Colorado Avalanche weren’t willing to go to $12 million a year. I think, in the end, (Rantanen’s) last communication with Colorado was that they were offering in the 11.5 range or 11.6. He said to them, ‘You know what, I know we’ve been asking for 14, but if we could get to 12, that’ll get the deal done. And I was told he was traded the next day.”
Interesting. From the @DailyFaceoff DFO Rundown today:
“The Colorado Avalanche weren’t willing to go to $12 million a year. I think, in the end, (Rantanen’s) last communication with Colorado was, they were offering in the 11.5 range or 11.6. He said to them, ‘you know what, I… pic.twitter.com/rjkwhqgit6
— Evan Rawal (@evanrawal) March 10, 2025
Mikko’s first game against the Avs is on Sunday. Gabriel Landeskog shared that a few of Colorado’s players will take their former teammate out to dinner before the contest and attempt to clear the air.
