Report: Avs traded Mikko Rantanen after big contract concession

Dallas Stars forward forward Mikko Rantanen. Perry Nelson-Imagn Images

Report: Avalanche traded Mikko Rantanen after his big contract concession

Originally posted on NHL Trade Talk | By Jim Parsons | Last updated Mar 12, 2025 4:31 PM ET

A new report from Daily Faceoff suggests that Mikko Rantanen did all he could to stay with the Colorado Avalanche prior to his shocking trade. In fact, he dropped his contract demand by $2 million in negotiations with his former team before being traded the next day over a reported $400K gap. What were the Avalanche thinking?

Interesting. From the @DailyFaceoff DFO Rundown today:

“The Colorado Avalanche weren’t willing to go to $12 million a year. I think, in the end, (Rantanen’s) last communication with Colorado was, they were offering in the 11.5 range or 11.6. He said to them, ‘you know what, I… pic.twitter.com/rjkwhqgit6
— Evan Rawal (@evanrawal) March 10, 2025

According to the report, Rantanen initially sought $14 million per season but was willing to settle at $12 million. The Avalanche weren’t going to get anywhere close to the $14, but were offering around $11.5 million to $11.6 million, says Frank Seravalli. The NHL insider explained:

“He said to them, ‘You know what, I know we’ve been asking for 14 but if we could get to 12, that’ll get the deal done’. And I was told he was traded the next day.”

Why wouldn’t the Avalanche go up $400K on Rantanen’s next contract?

Amazingly, rather than bridge the remaining difference, they moved on, dealing him to the Carolina Hurricanes. It seems wild to think the Avs would dump one of their top players over such a small amount of money.

Stranger things have happened, but most reports about the trade mention the same thing: Rantanen was caught off guard. It suggests that he thought the two sides were getting closer. Clearly, the Avs thought otherwise.

This article first appeared on NHL Trade Talk and was syndicated with permission.

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