Boston – facing the prospect ColoradoStar Winger Mikko Rantanen Becoming an unrestricted free agent after this season, general manager Chris MacFarland felt the time was right to deal him and strengthen the Avalanche’s roster for the future.
“I think it was just a tough business decision for us,” MacFarland said Saturday before the avalanche faced Boston Bruins. “I felt like the songs we had now made sense to hit.”
Colorado traded Rantanen in a three-team deal to Carolina earlier, acquiring a forward Martin Necas AND Jack Druryas well as a second-round pick in this year’s draft and a fourth-round pick in 2026.
Karolina also moved forward Taylor Hall from Chicago in trade.
Rantanen, 28, is a two-time AVS 100-point scorer who had a career-high 55 goals in 2015. The organization couldn’t agree to a new offer this year.
He had 25 goals and 39 assists when he was replaced, and leaves Colorado with 287 goals in his ninth full season. He helped them win the cup in 2022.
Trading a superstar is never easy, and MacFarland certainly had a few anxious moments.
“It hurts, doesn’t it. He is a homegrown talent. He’s a star person, he’s a superstar human being,” he said. “I think it’s a sport, right. We talk about it, people will talk about it. Your cardiac bursts are jerky. That’s why we all do it.
“I’d be lying, I’m like that. He’s such a good hockey player. … He had a UFA card and we felt that was what we had to do.”
Now Colorado faces the immediate future, trying to remain a Stanley Cup contender along with planning for the future.
“You’ve lost a star and we’ll have to try to replace him in the aggregate – fifty goals don’t grow on trees,” MacFarland said. “You usually have to design and develop them. Mikko was a home run for us for many, many years.”
And his former star will now try to help Karolina win its first cup since 2006.
“You feel like you’re doing what’s best for the logo and what’s best for the team,” MacFarland said.
