It didn’t seem like the Avs could possibly make a bigger splash after they upended their goaltending tandem in a matter of days over a month ago.
Exceeding expectations is the aim for the Colorado Avalanche - the shock factor is simply a byproduct.
In what will undoubtedly be one of the most talked-about moves in recent history, the Colorado Avalanche traded star forward, Mikko Rantanen, in a deal that has left many pondering the potential long-term implications.
On January 24th in a three-team trade with the Carolina Hurricanes and Chicago Blackhawks, Rantanen’s days in an Avalanche uniform came to an end.
Colorado received forwards Martin Necas and Jack Drury, along with a second-round selection in the 2025 NHL Draft and a fourth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft from the Carolina Hurricanes.
Going out, Colorado traded Rantanen to the Blackhawks for forward Nils Juntorp. To complete the deal, Carolina acquired Rantanen and Taylor Hall from Chicago in exchange for Colorado sending Juntorp to the Hurricanes. Chicago also received its own 2025 third-round pick in the deal, which was previously acquired by Carolina.
“Look, these are tough decisions,” said Avs GM Chris MacFarland. “There's nothing done in a vacuum. Mikko earned the right to be an unrestricted free agent and he's five months away from that. You got to make these hard decisions, the player has to make them, and the club has to make them,” he said.
“And that's what we did. Getting two cost-controlled assets was important. We felt we got the top-six guy and a good bottom-six guy, and away we go.”
While the decision to move on from a player of Rantanen's caliber might seem jarring at first, the front office insists that it’s part of a broader vision for balancing the roster, strengthening depth, and ultimately keeping the team competitive.
It appears the writing really was on the wall after Leon Draisaitl signed an 8 year, $112,000,000 contract this September effectively changing the market for high-end forwards.
There were reports that Rantanen was keen to make Draisaitl money, but Pierre Lebrun reported that Rantanen was willing to agree to a contract closer to Nathan MacKinnon’s $12.6 million per year if it meant staying in Colorado.
The Avs bucked a trend and invested in goaltending with the latest Mackenzie Blackwood contract. Cale Makar is due for an extension in two seasons. From the Avs side, their ability to offer Rantanen an honorable price might have been deemed impossible no matter his willingness to consider a team-friendly contract.
The departure of Rantanen, who has been an indispensable part of the team for nearly a decade, was the centerpiece of the move. Rantanen’s role as an alternate captain both on and off the ice has made his trade a difficult one for the Avalanche.
MacFarland acknowledged the weight of the decision during a press conference. “It's a bittersweet day,” he said. “Mikko is a decorated player for us. He's an elite winger in this league, so it was a tough few days… We decided to act yesterday, but it wasn't without a lot of serious thought. I can assure you that.”
It’s easy to understand why some might view this trade as a gamble. Rantanen was a fixture of the Avalanche’s offense, and replacing the kind of production he provided on a nightly basis won’t be an easy task.
His leadership and consistency have set a high bar for what the team expects of its players. While the team insists that the trade will improve their depth, the real question is how this move will affect the chemistry of the roster and the balance of leadership in the locker room. Rantanen was not only one of the most skilled players on the ice, but he also represented a core part of the team's identity.
“I don't think it's an issue at all. I think they're pros,” MacFarland said of the locker room reaction. “They're a weathered group. They know it's at times a tough business.”
It’s impossible to talk about this trade without acknowledging the legacy Rantanen leaves behind in Colorado. “He's a superstar person. He's a superstar human being,” said MacFarland. “He's that good of a hockey player. And it's gonna sound cliche, but he's a super human being. He had the UFA card and we just felt this was what we had to do.”
Over the years, he has become synonymous with the Avalanche’s rise to prominence. Drafted in the first round in 2015, Rantanen quickly established himself as one of the league’s premier forwards.
Ranked seventh on the franchise’s all-time lists in points and assists and sixth in goals, his scoring ability and knack for coming through in big moments played a major role in the team’s success, including their Stanley Cup victory in 2022.
His departure will undoubtedly be felt in the locker room, among fans, and throughout the organization. Replacing a player of his caliber, both on and off the ice, is no small feat.
He was serious when he needed to be, but he often provided refreshing levity to round out a leadership group made up of the reserved and stoic Makar and direct and exacting MacKinnon. Together they shared a harmonious drive to win.
Despite the emotional weight of the trade, the Avalanche's front office seems confident that this move will ultimately strengthen the team. MacFarland spoke about how the trade would allow the organization to deepen its roster.
“Martin Necas, he's been around the top 10 in scoring this year, but his age is a big part of that. He fits in with his speed. He's certainly a top-six talent. Whether he has another bump in his game with the way we play, we'll see. I think [Drury] is hopefully that 3C that we've been (looking) for,” MacFarland explained.
“[Drury’s] a gritty competitive guy that I think our coaches will use on the penalty kill. We think there's another bump in his game offensively as well, and it's no secret that we've not been the best face off team the last number of years.”
Necas, 26, also has first round pedigree like Rantanen. He led the Hurricanes in points prior to the trade and was named the NHL’s First Star of the month in November after leading all skaters with 22 points in 15 games. Speed, playmaking, and transition hockey are his calling cards.
While the trade may offer more flexibility past this season and improve depth, it’s hard to ignore the unknowns that come with such a bold move. The roster has a little more depth, but will the new additions be able to fill the void left by Rantanen’s departure? And what impact will this have on team morale and chemistry? Only time will tell.
What remains clear is that the Avalanche’s front office is not standing still. Assuming they’d lose Rantanen for nothing this summer, they are actively working to build a team capable of competing for the Stanley Cup for years to come. It’s impossible to deny that this trade signals the end of an era for the franchise.
When discussing Colorado’s stars, it wasn’t often Nathan MacKinnon or Cale Makar without mention of Mikko Rantanen too.
As the Avalanche move forward without one of their core players, the franchise faces a period of transition. The future of the team remains bright, but replacing the leadership, skill, and personality of Mikko Rantanen is no easy task.
For the Avalanche, the path forward is uncertain, but one thing is for sure: the impact of Mikko Rantanen will be felt for a long time to come.
