Boston – Faced with the prospect of Coloradostar winger Mikko Rantanen Becoming an unrestricted free agent after this season, general manager Chris MacFarland felt the timing was right to deal him and strengthen the Avalanche roster for the future.
“I think it was just a tough business decision here for us,” MacFarland said Saturday before the Avalanche loss 3-1 At Boston Bruins. “I felt like the plays we had made sense to hit now.”
Colorado traded Rantanen in a three-team deal to Carolina a night earlier, acquiring forwards Martin Necas And Jack Druryas well as a second-round pick in this year’s draft and a fourth-rounder in 2026.
Carolina also moved forward Taylor Hall of Chicago in commerce.
Drafted No. 10 in 2015 by Colorado, Rantanen, 28, a 100-point two-point scorer who had an AVS record 55 goals in 2022-20 The organization could not agree on a new deal entering this season.
He scored 25 goals and 39 assists when he was traded, and leaves Colorado with 287 career goals in his ninth full season. He helped them win the Cup in 2022.
The Avalanche and Hurricanes have been discussing Rantanen since last summer. Carolina general manager Eric Tulsky said the last six to eight weeks have seen them make “serious offers” for the winger, with the Hurricanes pushing hard to complete the trade over the past two weeks.
Trading a superstar is never easy, and Macfarland certainly had some anxious moments.
“It hurts, it does. He’s a local talent. He’s a superstar person, he’s a superstar human being,” he said. “I think it’s sport, no. We’re going to talk about it, people are going to talk about it. Your heart strings are pulled. This is why we all do this.
“I’d be lying, I’m like that. He’s such a good hockey player. … He had the UFA card, and we thought that’s what we had to do.”
Rantanen was looking for a contract in the neighborhood of eight-year extension Leon Draisaitl signed with the Edmonton Oilers in September. This transaction has an average annual value of $14 million. Rantanen and Draisaitl are represented by agent Andy Scott.
Now, Colorado faces the immediate future by trying to remain a Stanley Cup contender as well as planning for the future.
“You lose a superstar and we’re going to have to try and replace him overall – 50-goal scorers don’t grow on trees,” Macfarland said. “You usually have to draft them and develop them. Mikko was a home run for us for many, many years.”
And his former star player will now try to help Carolina win its first Cup since 2006.
“You think you’re doing what’s best for the logo and best for the team,” MacFarland said.
MacFarland said it was important to have NECAS, a speedy forward who has led the Hurricanes in scoring this season, and Drury, an “emerging player” in the lineup, under contract and “cost-controlled” beyond of this season. He said the trade would allow Avalanche to make more moves before the March 7 deadline.
“I think we’re always looking to get better. Certainly over the next few weeks that’s not going to change. I think obviously there’s a little bit more ball in the draft cupboard and cap space,” he said. he said.
Ultimately, keeping Rantanen on the contract he sought would have had too many repercussions for the Avalanche, who will have to re-sign the All-Star defenseman Cale Makar In 2027. Although the salary cap is increasing in the NHL, MacFarland says the team needs all the flexibility it can muster.
“The ceiling is going to go up, but you still have to have your internal perspectives. It’s clear we’re not deep enough. I think you have to be deep to go four rounds and hopefully this will help that,” Macfarland said. declared. “Obviously, Mikko is a superstar. You can’t replace that. But he’s a superstar who has earned the right to be a free agent.”
Greg Wyshynski of ESPN and the Associated Press contributed to this report.