NHL: Colorado Avalanche at Toronto Maple Leafs - Source: Imagn — NHL insider Darren Dreger picks Maple Leafs forward against Mikko Rantanen (Source: Imagn)

Darren Dreger ditches Mikko Rantanen to choose $65M Leafs' winger for eight-year contract

Modified Nov 29, 2024 18:21 GMT

On Friday's episode of the "First Up" podcast, NHL insider Darren Dreger discussed the contract situations of Mikko Rantanen and Mitch Marner. Dreger was asked to choose between the two for an eight-year contract.

"There's no right, there's no wrong answer to this one, I think because we're so used to seeing Mitch Marner play," Dreger said. "I'm going to say Mitch Marner, but if you're telling me that you'd swap one, you swap Marner, you're bringing in Rantanen. It's a pretty, it's a pretty even comparable."

Mikko Rantanen is in the final year of his $9.25 million per season contract with the Colorado Avalanche. He believes he could earn $14 million annually if he reaches free agency next summer. Rantanen is having an excellent season, with 32 points in 23 games. However, it’s more likely that the Avalanche will reach an extension with him before he hits the open market.

On the other hand, Marner is in the middle of a six-year, $65.4 million deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Marner has scored 29 points in 22 games this season with 20 assists. Marner’s agent, Darren Ferris, may push for a new contract that could exceed $13.25 million, which is what Leafs captain Auston Matthews earns. This could complicate negotiations with Marner.

Marner has said he wants to stay in Toronto, but the Leafs may need him to take less money. If not, the team might look at other options, including Mikko Rantanen.

Mikko Rantanen and Avalanche win 2-1 against Knights

The Colorado Avalanche won 2-1 in a shootout against the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday. Colorado coach Jared Bednar praised the team's effort.

“I really liked that game from us,” Bednar said per NHL. “I thought [it was] hard finding ice to create scoring chances for both teams. ... I thought we got more and more dangerous and spent more time in the attack zone... it was good, all-around hockey game.”

Pavel Dorofeyev put Vegas ahead 1-0 at 13:09 of the second period. He scored over the shoulder of Alexandar Georgiev after receiving a pass from Ivan Barbashev.

Valeri Nichushkin tied the game 1-1 for Colorado at 13:42. He one-timed a loose puck past Adin Hill. In the shootout, Nichushkin scored the only goal in the fifth round, giving the Avalanche the win.

Georgiev made 18 saves against the Golden Knights, helping Colorado win four of their last five games. Hill stopped 33 shots for Vegas but couldn’t stop the shootout winner.

Mikko Rantanen and the Avs will be up against the Dallas Stars on Friday.