NHL Rumors: Elliotte Friedman expresses ‘optimism’ for $55.5 million Mikko Rantanen’s extension with Avs

By Cole Shelton

Modified Aug 15, 2024 15:07 GMT

NHL insider Elliotte Friedman believes there is optimism for the Colorado Avalanche to sign forward Mikko Rantanen. Rantanen is entering the final year of his six-year, $55.5 million contract.

Rantanen has been a key part of the Avalanche's roster for quite some time. Although he was eligible to sign a contract extension on Jul. 1, that didn't come to fruition. However, Friedman believes Rantanen and Colorado can get something done soon.

"I did have some teams tell me that they do think there’s some optimism that Colorado and Rantanen can get something done,” Friedman said on Wednesday on 32 Thoughts (via ColoradoHockeyNow). “You start to do your planning a year out."

"They’re starting to take Draisaitl off their boards because they think that’s going to get done in Edmonton, and I had some teams tell me they don’t have any reason to believe, right now, that Rantanen is going to be a hard one to get done either. We’ll see where that goes.”

Rantanen recorded 42 goals and 62 assists for 104 points in 80 games. In the playoffs, the skilled winger added four goals and 10 assists for 14 points in 11 games.

What could Mikko Rantanen's next contract look like?

Mikko Rantanen will be in line to get a raise. The winger is getting $9.25 million in the upcoming NHL season and is just 27, so he is entering his prime.

If Rantanen goes for the maximum eight-year deal he can sign, he will likely be above $10 million yearly. A comparable number could be the deal William Nylander signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He is also a winger and signed an eight-year $92 million contract, an AAV of $11.5 million.

Nylander has never been a 100-point player in the NHL, which Rantanen has, so he can look at that contract and even ask for more.

However, Nathan MacKinnon makes $12.6 million per season and won't get more than him. Instead, a deal around $11 to $12 million is likely the landing spot for a Rantanen extension. Rantanen was picked 10th overall in the 2015 NHL Draft by Colorado. He's skated in 570 games recording 262 goals and 355 assists for 617 points.