Opinion: Mikko Rantanen’s trade generates new generation of Avs hockey
Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images
The Avalanche have jumbled things up in a massive way. Holy smokes.
The Colorado Avalanche traded Mikko Rantanen, sending shockwaves through the organization and the entirety of the NHL. In return, the Avalanche got Martin Necas, Jack Drury, a 2025 second-round pick, and a 2026 fourth-round pick from the Carolina Hurricanes. The Chicago Blackhawks were the middleman of the deal, getting their own third-round pick back from Carolina and retaining 50% of Rantanen’s $9.25 million salary.
Trade alert. pic.twitter.com/7AX82rf9Np— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) January 25, 2025
This bombshell of a move is not only season-altering but franchise-altering. The Colorado Avalanche built up Mikko Rantanen ever since he was picked 10th overall in the 2015 NHL Draft, working his way up the ranks before becoming a regular in the lineup.
Since he became a regular, he had been nothing short of brilliant.
The 28-year-old had played all 619 career games in Colorado, with 287 goals and 394 assists totaling 681 points - averaging over a point per game. He finally achieved the 100-point mark two seasons ago and is on track for a third straight season with 100 or more points. He led the Avalanche in scoring with 25 goals, driving plays forward and using his body to make plays.
Mikko Rantanen with a ridiculous snipe pic.twitter.com/m41LR84Ics— The Hockey News (@TheHockeyNews) May 18, 2024
He was also the main man on the power play - having scored four more points on the man advantage than Nathan MacKinnon in his entire time in Colorado. On an already-lacking power play this season, he was the one who could deliver. Remember, he scored two in a hat-trick performance in a loss to the Vegas Golden Knights to start the season.
Rantanen was also a key factor in the Stanley Cup run in 2022, recording five goals and 21 assists. He scored in each game against the Edmonton Oilers in their sweep of the Western Conference Final. When players were down and out, Rantanen was always the one to deliver. He was doing the same this season before this massive trade.
Mikko Rantanen, acquired by CAR, is a top line winger whose size, finishing touch, and passing ability make him one of the toughest players to defend in the league. Can score from anywhere, great net-front presence, elite puck protector. #LetsGoCanes pic.twitter.com/M8ZM9qaoEi— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) January 25, 2025
Coming to the Avs in exchange are two unique players in Martin Necas and Jack Drury. Necas was a fan-favorite in Carolina and is sure to be the same in Colorado once he plays. But, he is far from the same player Rantanen is.
Necas was leading the Canes in points this season, 55 total made up of 16 goals and 39 assists. His shot is wicked, and it’s a major difference between him and Rantanen. While he will likely slot in on the power play, he has struggled on the man advantage. He is the only one with goals expected under 50%, which is something Colorado already struggles with enough.
He too will drive the play forward and was paired brilliantly with Sebastian Aho. Now, he will get the opportunity to do so with MacKinnon. The reigning MVP is great, but will he have the same chemistry and tenacity as he did with Rantanen? Time will tell.
Martin Necas, acquired by COL, is a skilled offensive forward. One of the fastest skaters in the league, a superb puck carrier in transition, and a great passer as well. Has not been quite as effective defensively, and does not play a particularly physical game. #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/t9TQPnn0oX— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) January 25, 2025
As for Drury, he follows in his uncle’s footsteps of playing with the Avalanche - Chris Drury was a member of the 2001 Stanley Cup-winning team. Drury will help solidify the bottom six, as the American center is in just his fourth season.
Last year was the best of his young career, notching eight goals and 19 assists for 27 points in 74 games. This year has been a regression, however, as in 39 games he only has three goals and six assists. He averages about 12 minutes a game and is good in the faceoff dot, which is another place where the Avalanche need help.
At only 24 years old, he can be a nice young addition to the lineup. But a combination of him and Necas simply does not replicate what Rantanen brought to the Avs.
Jack Drury, acquired by COL, is a low-event fourth line centre. A committed and high-energy defensive player but not exactly the best finishing touch out there. pic.twitter.com/wQ4tRuDHyZ— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) January 25, 2025
Rantanen leaves Colorado as the seventh-highest point scorer in franchise history when combined with the Quebec Nordiques. He was a fan favorite and one to keep his team in games where they didn’t deserve to be.
If anything, this trade is a tell-tale sign of the changes the organization is going through.
Ever since winning the Stanley Cup three years ago, Colorado has let almost everyone go. Only six players remain from that team. It seems as though they’ve thrown the kitchen sink at the team, eyeing for more but always falling short.
At the same time, the Avalanche have done this while maneuvering around the cap thanks to Gabriel Landeskog’s knee woes and trying to be cheap. Alexandar Georgiev and Justus Annunen were the cheapest goaltending duo this season, trying to make it work in the blue paint.
We all saw how that went.
The famous saying “You get what you pay for” is a perfect example of such. This trade signals the Avalanche were trying to do the same - pay cheap and get away with it. Rantanen would’ve - and still could - draw in $14 million in free agency. Ultimately, the Avs decided to not let it get to that point and got something for him.
But even then, this deal is far from what Rantanen is worth. Colorado couldn’t even snag a first-round pick for him, let alone other players and talent to attempt to fill in the now gaping hole on the top line.
The Avalanche have made their bed. They’ve moved on from a generational player who they had the negotiating edge with in both contract negotiations and trade negotiations. Instead, they jumped the gun at what was offered and took what they could - despite possibly missing out on even more that was previously offered.
Now, they have to make do with what they have. Personally, I think the Avalanche are not done making moves yet. Something else has to be in the works by the deadline. Showing your hand by moving Rantanen makes almost everyone aside from MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Devon Toews safe from a trade by the deadline in six weeks.
With the likes of Casey Mittelstadt struggling, room running out for Miles Wood, and the inevitable wild card of Landeskog’s return, Colorado has to make something work moving forward. They’re not done yet. Chris MacFarland has been busy with blockbuster trades all season, this one included.
But it’ll have to be without a key figure of the organization for the last decade. And it’s something they may live to regret in both the near and distant future. ...
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