Mikko Rantanen is going to sign a very long, very profitable contract in the near future, and he’s not worried that it hasn’t happened yet.
Rantanen has one year left on his current deal, with an average annual value of $9.25 million. He would become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 if he and the Colorado Avalanche do not come to an agreement before then.
“I think there’s been talks with my camp and the front office. It’s done when it’s done,” Rantanen said. “Business will take care of itself. I’m just here to play hockey and get ready for another season and try to help my team win.
“That’s my goal. My job is to try and help this team win.”
The Finnish native has developed into one of the top-five wings in the sport over the past several seasons. Rantanen scored a career-high 55 goals two years ago, then collected his second straight season with more than 100 points in 2023-24.
Rantanen has scored 163 goals in the past four seasons. There are four players in the NHL who have more: Auston Matthews (210), Leon Draisaitl (179), Connor McDavid (173) and David Pastrnak (168).
All four of those players possess contracts with an AAV of at least $11.25 million. Draisaitl recently signed an eight-year pact that starts next season with an AAV of $14 million, which surpasses Matthews ($13.25 million) as the highest in the league.
“I guess that’s where the league is going, I would say,” Rantanen said of Draisaitl’s deal. “I am happy for him. I don’t know him that well. I met him a couple of times, but it is well-deserved for sure. He’s an unreal player.”
There’s no question that Rantanen will deserve a raise on his next deal, but how big of one will have some impact on long-term planning for the Avalanche. The NHL’s salary cap ceiling increased to $88 million for this season, a bump of $4.5 million.
It’s the first significant increase since the COVID-19 pandemic. The NHL also expects the ceiling to increase again for next season, with multiple projections suggesting it will be in the $92 million range.
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The Avs have $12.6 million and $7.25 million committed to Nathan MacKinnon and Devon Toews through 2031, respectively. Gabe Landeskog and Valeri Nichushkin are also both under contract for a combined $13.125 million per season through at least 2029, but their situations are less clear.
Cale Makar’s cap hit will be $9 million for two more seasons beyond this one before he’s also due a hefty raise. If the NHL’s cap ceiling continues to increase, it will be easier for a team like the Avs to have three players on eight-figure contracts.
Jack Eichel became the first player to lift the Stanley Cup with an AAV of $10 million-plus in 2023 with Vegas, and Florida became the first team with two players on eight-figure contracts (Aleksander Barkov, Sergei Bobrovsky) to win in 2024. The Panthers also have Matthew Tkachuk at $9.5 million.
“I kind of want to let it handle itself,” Rantanen said. “I like the team. I like the city. We won the Stanley Cup here. Why would I want to leave? That’s the only thing I want to say about it. But we’ll see. It’s done when it’s done.”
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