Rantanen’s contract talk delayed till season’s end
Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic is confident he will sign firstline right winger Mikko Rantanen, a pending restricted free agent, to his next contract. But the sides probably won’t discuss the matter until after this season.
Rantanen, who turns 22 this month, will be due a large raise out of his entrylevel contract if he matches or exceeds his 29goal, 84point season of 201718. His salary is $832,500 with $850,000 in performances bonuses. Many of the NHL’s top right wingers are making $7 million annually, including Boston’s David Pastrnak ($8 million) and St. Louis’ Vladimir Tarasenko ($7 million).
Colorado’s highestpaid player is Nathan MacKinnon, who has a $6.75 million salary and $6.3 cap hit.
“It’s not something we’re worried about,” Sakic said of Rantanen’s next contract. “I’ve had conversations with his representatives. They want to play it out and see how this year goes. He’s going to be here a long time.”
Opening statement.
Sakic met with the media Wednesday to discuss the pending season. In short, he wants to see the team achieve shortterm goals — beginning with a good start — and growth from secondyear players Tyson Jost, J.T. Compher, Alex Kerfoot and Sam Girard, among others. By average age, Colorado had the NHL’s youngest team last season.
“Obviously, you want to be in the (playoff) mix,” Sakic said. “The most important thing for us to see the growth of this group. Still a young team — only a year older than last year. There is room for growth and we’re excited to see who makes that next jump.”
The Avs will again play in the Central Division, which is considered the league’s toughest.
“You’re going to have two, three maybe four really good teams miss the playoffs,” Sakic said. “That’s what makes it so exciting, so great, the Western Conference, our division. Every night is a tough night.”
Footnotes.
Rookie forward Sheldon Dries has apparently solidified himself as the Avs’ 12th forward and will make his NHL debut Thursday in the opener if Colorado goes with a traditional 12forward, sixdefensemen lineup. Following practice Wednes day, Colorado reassigned secondyear forward Dominic Toninato to the American Hockey League’s Colorado Eagles, trimming the roster to 21 players (12 forwards). Dries and Toninato were rotating shifts on the fourth line. The Avs’ extra defenseman is Mark Barberio, who will be scratched Thursday if coach Jared Bednar goes with a traditional lineup. … Bednar is following through with what he has said is the big advantage of having your AHL affiliate 55 miles north of Denver. When the Avalanche has a homestand and the Eagles also are home, the Avs’ roster will shrink to allow first and secondyear players the opportunity to play AHL games instead of being an NHL healthy scratch. Thus, Toninato could be recalled before the Avs’ depart for next week’s road trip to Columbus and Buffalo.