Avalanche all-star Mikko Rantanen, despite missing all of training camp and preseason, proved in Thursday’s season-opener that he had an excellent off-season plan in Europe.
While waiting to agree to a contract out of his entry-level deal, Rantanen, 22, trained in his native Finland and Switzerland. He practiced with Swiss league SC Bern, which has a Finnish coaching staff.
“Professional team, some players who played in the NHL, and I knew the coaches,” Rantanen said before Saturday’s game against the Minnesota Wild at the Pepsi Center.
Rantanen finally signed his contract — a six-year deal worth $55.