The Colorado Avalanche announced that they have re-signed forward Mikko Rantanen to a six-year, $55.5 million contract. The deal carries him through the 2024-25 season.
The Avs have agreed to terms with Mikko Rantanen. 6 years x $9.25 M aav
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) September 28, 2019
Mikko Rantanen #Avs
6 year / $55.5M total (9.25M AAV)2019-20: $12M
2020-21: $12M
2021-22: $10M
2022-23: $6M
2023-24: $9.5M
2024-25: $6MAll base salary, no Signing Bonuses.https://t.co/0bPIlG4Jvt pic.twitter.com/YstFe8F0Vd
— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) September 28, 2019
Avalanche Lock Up Mikko Rantanen
In 74 games last season, Rantanen scored 31 goals and added 56 assists for 87 points. His possession numbers were 59.7 percent Corsi and a relative Corsi of +14.9. In 12 Stanley Cup playoff games, Rantanen scored six goals and eight assists for 14 points.
Over his three year career, Rantanen has scored 80 goals and 129 assists for 209 points in 239 games. Rantanen was drafted by the Avalanche in the first round, 10th overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.
What This Means for the Future
With the Rantanen signing, the Avalanche got their most notable free agent under contract. Rantanen is coming off a career year where he set new career highs in goals assists and points. It was also the first time he hit the 30-goal plateau. Rantanen along with Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog formed one of the most productive lines in the NHL, according to LeftWingLock.com.
Rantanen has developed into one of the league’s premier players. He possesses a large frame at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds but still moves rather quickly for his size. He uses his size well in puck battles along the boards as well as in the corners. Rantanen isn’t afraid to go into the dirty areas of the ice and often comes out with the puck. He is also an elite playmaker. Rantanen has put up over 50 assists in each of the last two seasons. Some of this can be credited to playing with MacKinnon, but we can’t sell Rantanen short. Now that he’s finding the back of the net along with that, it makes him one of the most dangerous players in the league.
Not only is Rantanen great offensively but he plays a strong defensive game as well. Rantanen has great hockey sense and knows where to be positionally to help out his defence and intercept plays. He also uses his large frame to help win puck battles down low and get the play moving in transition. Rantanen is a true two-way player.
The Avalanche will look to build off their success from last season, which included knocking off top seed Calgary Flames in the first round. Rantanen was a huge part that scoring five goals and nine points in five games. The Avalanche still have some work to do but with their Rantanen and MacKinnon now locked up long term the future looks bright.
Main Photo:
SAN JOSE, CA – MAY 08: Mikko Rantanen #96 of the Colorado Avalanche skates against the San Jose Sharks during the first period of Game Seven of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center on May 8, 2019, in San Jose, California. The Sharks won the game 3-2. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
