Mikko Rantanen and the Avalanche will remain married. It’s just a matter of time before the big Finn becomes Colorado’s top-paid player.
Rantanen, 22, is among the best of the best in a mighty fine class of restricted free agents that includes Toronto’s Mitch Marner, Tampa Bay’s Brayden Point, Calgary’s Matthew Tkachuk, Kyle Connor and Patrik Laine of Winnipeg, and Vancouver’s Brock Boeser. They each are in their early 20s and coming out of their entry-level contracts (ELC).
Because of their salary demands and their club’s lack of salary cap space, some might get traded, but Rantanen is not one of them.