The biggest reason of the departure of Mikko Rantanen is Leon Drasaitl and here's why
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The Mikko Rantanen trade has signalled a major shift for the Colorado Avalanche and shows the ripple effects of Leon Draisaitl's extension.
Rantanen is a consistent 100-point player and clutch playoff performer and he was believing his production warranted a contract like the one Leon Drasaitl had.
However, with Nathan MacKinnon at $12.6 million and Cale Makar's looking fir an extension in 2026, the Colorado wasn't willing to match Draisaitl's number.
«What was Colorado's limit for Mikko Rantanen? Leon Draisaitl's $14-million AAV extension and the soon-to-be-rising cap altered the negotiations. (Rantanen is also represented by the same agency as Draisaitl: Octagon.) The Avalanche just weren't willing to go in that area, with Nathan MacKinnon at $12.6 million and Cale Makar eligible for a ginormous extension of his own in July 2026.»
-Elliotte Friedman
-Elliotte Friedman
This financial reality forced the Avalanche to move on from one of their cornerstone players.
The trade wasn't about saying that Rantanen's has no value or his talent but about maintaining long-term cap flexibility.
With the salary cap set to rise, Rantanen's $14 million ask might've been fair market value, but Colorado prioritized keeping their roster balanced rather than tying up significant cap space in three players, like the Edmonton Oilers did.
Leon Draisaitl's deal influenced the negotiation and Rantanen's camp used the Oilers' contract as a benchmark.
Ironically, Edmonton benefits indirectly from this as losing Rantanen weakens one of their biggest Western Conference competitors.
This trade shows the challenges of managing superstar contracts in a salary-cap league and Colorado made a tough, but calculated decision to prioritize depth and flexibility.
For Rantanen, the trade likely leads to a massive payday elsewhere and for Edmonton, Leon Draisaitl's contract continues to influence the league.
It's a move that could reshape the playoff picture and redefine the Avalanche's future.
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