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The Colorado Avalanche are reportedly reluctant to offer star forward Mikko Rantanen a hefty contract extension, according to NHL insider Nick Kypreos. Rantanen is in the final year of his six-year, $55.5 million deal with the Avalanche and is a key player in the team's offense.
However, according to Kypreos, the team doesn't want to get close to Nathan MacKinnon's eighty-year $100.8 million contract.
"Star winger Mikko Rantanen and the Avalanche don’t appear to be close to an extension," Kypreos wrote in his Toronto Star article. "The feeling out there is the Avs are reluctant to get his average salary anywhere near Nathan MacKinnon’s $12.6 million at this point in time. They are also hoping to have a clearer picture on captain Gabriel Landeskog’s health and future before deciding how high they need to go to retain Rantanen."
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It does make sense for the Avalanche to not offer Rantanen near the $12.6 million that MacKinnon makes.
MacKinnon signed his extension with the Avalanche in September 2022, a year before his contract was set to expire, which is the spot Rantanen currently is in.
Rantanen skated in 80 games last season recording 42 goals and 62 assists for 104 points. He was a key member of the Avalanche team that won the Stanley Cup in 2022.
Mikko Rantanen wants to extend with Avalanche
Mikko Rantanen will be one of the most sought-after free agents on July 1 if he does hit the open market.
However, before the season began, Rantanen spoke to the Denver Post and made it clear he wanted to sign an extension with the Avalanche.
"I kind of want to let it handle itself," Rantanen said. "I like the team. I like the city. We won the Stanley Cup here. Why would I want to leave? That's the only thing I want to say about it. But we'll see. It's done when it's done."
Rantanen was selected 10th overall in the 2015 NHL draft. He's spent his entire career with the Avalanche as he's skated in 577 games, recording 266 goals and 362 assists for 628 points.
