ST. LOUIS — Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic has cleared Mikko Rantanen to play for host Team Finland at the upcoming World Junior Championship in Helsinki. Rantanen, 19, is under contract with Avalanche but playing for its American Hockey League affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage.
He leads the Rampage in scoring with 21 points (eight goals) in just 17 games. Rantanen, who was selected 10th by the Avalanche in the 2015 NHL draft, played for Finland last year at the WJC in Montreal and Toronto, leading the Finns in scoring with four points — all goals — in five games.