It’s time for another edition of NHL rumours. We’ve started the regular season, but teams are already thinking future contracts. There have been a number of deals that were dealt with the off-season. However, some major names could get to free agency if deals aren’t signed. One team that has a major player left to sign is the Colorado Avalanche. Today’s NHL rumours deals with how talks may progress.
All NHL rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
Colorado Avalanche May Have Internal Cap for Key Forward
Rumour: The latest edition of TSN’s Insider Trading talked about how talks may go for Colorado and forward Mikko Rantanen. Insider Pierre LeBrun said a extension isn’t on the horizon on this time. There also be an internal limit of under $12.6 million for the Finnish star.
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Analysis: Rantanen has the same agent as Edmonton Oilers star Leon Draisaitl in Andy Scott. Draisaitl was able to land a $14 million deal that will start next season. Rantanen could be in line for a big payday next season. He currently makes $9.25 million per season. However, he’s deserving of a pay upgrade.
Colorado’s highest-paid player is Nathan MacKinnon at $12.6 million. Avalanche General Manager Chris MacFarland seems to want keep MacKinnon as the team’s highest-paid player.
The insider said that there may be somewhat of a gap. However, LeBrun said a deal should get done between the two sides, but people won’t be certain until a deal is done.
Internal Caps Are Not a New Thing
The concept of an internal salary hierarchy isn’t a new concept. We saw something similar with the Detroit Red Wings when it tried to sort out a contract for Moritz Seider.
One of the sticking points seemed to be making sure Seider didn’t make more than captain Dylan Larkin. The German blueliner was able to get $8.55 million per season, which is a hair less than the $8.7 million that Larkin is getting.
It seems that Colorado does want to pay Rantanen. However, the magic number seems to be $12.6 million, which is MacKinnon’s cap hit. MacFarland wants to pay the Finnish star, but the key is slotting him under the Hart Trophy winner.
Crunching the Numbers
Colorado does have some large contracts besides MacKinnon on their books. Cale Makar, Devon Toews, Gabriel Landeskog and Valeri Nichushkin, each make over $6 million and money starts to get tight with that much talent on a roster.
Landeskog has been dealing with injuries while Nichushkin is in the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. One wonders if MacFarland has had some thoughts about moving some numbers around when it comes to these players.
The Avs don’t have a timeline for the captain’s return and the team has made it clear that trading Nichushkin isn’t a discussion topic as of yet. However, one wonders how great the pressure is going to be to keep Rantanen in the fold.
Colorado does have cap space at the moment, but that’s because of the players on long-term injured reserve. The pressure will be on to give Rantanen the raise he deserves.
Main photo by: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
