Avalanche must extend Mikko Rantanen before offseason is over – The Hockey Writers – Colorado Avalanche

Mikko Rantanen is in a pretty good position. He’s scored 100 points in back-to-back seasons, gets to play alongside Hart Trophy winner Nathan MacKinnon, and appears poised to cash in on his next contract. That last part puts the Colorado Avalanche in a more precarious position, as general manager Chris MacFarland tries to keep all of Colorado’s superstars together.

The 2024-25 season is the final year of Rantanen’s current contract, and getting this deal done will likely be just as important to the Avs’ future as MacKinnon’s 2022 extension. Those two have created one of the highest-scoring duos in the entire NHL, and here’s a look at why the Avalanche should get his extension signed sooner rather than later.

Rantanen is already an Avs All-Time Great

He’s only 27 years old, but it’s likely Rantanen has a spot reserved for his jersey in the rafters of Ball Arena when his playing days are over. He already ranks in the top eight of the franchise rankings in career goals (262), assists (355) and points (617). He’s scored at least 100 points in each of the last two seasons and had 92 points in 2021-22 to help Colorado win its third Stanley Cup.

Only three other players in franchise history have reached 100 points in consecutive campaigns. Two are in the Hall of Fame and the other recently won the Hart Trophy as the league’s most valuable player. Peter Stastny recorded six consecutive 100-point seasons from 1980-86. Michel Goulet accomplished the feat in 1982-83 and 1983-84, while MacKinnon joined Rantanen in reaching 100 points in the last two seasons.

His last three seasons alone have seen him reach levels of production that only a few players in franchise history have achieved. Over the past three campaigns, Rantanen has missed just nine games and has amassed 133 goals and 301 points. Only Connor McDavid (408 points), Leon Draisaitl (344) and MacKinnon (339) have scored more in that span — with MacKinnon and McDavid winning the last two MVP awards.

Related: Salary cap issues loom for 2024-25 season and beyond

Rantanen is a year younger than MacKinnon and the same age as McDavid. There’s no indication that either player will slow down anytime soon, and Rantanen’s numbers put him right in their footsteps. His 55 goals in 2022-23 are just two shy of Goulet’s single-season record of 57, set in 1982-83. Rantanen’s points per game have also increased each of the last three seasons. There’s little reason to think he can’t keep that up for a few more seasons, and a 50-goal season could still come.

Rantanen’s contract situation is difficult

While everyone involved with the Avalanche wants to bring Rantanen back, it’s not going to be easy. Recent signings and the success of their first-round picks have made some of those extensions difficult. In the past three years, the team has recently extended the contracts of MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Valeri Nichushkin, Arturri Lehkonen, Devon Toews and Gabriel Landeskog. All of those signings are quality, but they’ve put MacFarland and the Avs in a salary cap situation that’s akin to playing Jenga 40 feet high in a 40 mph wind. It’s going to be pretty tough to balance.

Some will point to the Vancouver Canucks’ recent contract extension to star Elias Pettersson, an eight-year, $92.8 million deal ($11.6 million in average annual value). That seems perfectly reasonable for Rantanen, but the Avalanche star could demand even more money — given that he’s a more prolific scorer than Pettersson. However, that would give Colorado three players making more than $9 million per year, along with MacKinnon and Makar. That’s a huge chunk of the $88 million salary cap that’s been allocated to just three players. That’s not to say MacKinnon, Makar and Rantanen aren’t worth it — and they’ve earned it. These are three of the best players in franchise history. That makes it imperative to get the extension done before Rantanen has a chance to add more to his resume.

Related: Avalanche’s 5 Biggest Priorities for the 2024 NHL Offseason

The Avalanche should sign this extension before the puck drops on the 2024-25 season, just as they did with MacKinnon. Signing him in August or September removes any distractions during the season, protects the Avs from a price increase for Rantanen, and protects the player from a price decrease due to injury or other circumstances. If Colorado wants to win another Stanley Cup with this group, it’s hard to imagine them doing it without Rantanen. Winning franchises have to make tough decisions, but this one seems like a no-brainer.