The Colorado Avalanche stunned the hockey world when they shipped superstar Mikko Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes. The team was already struggling to break into the top three of the Central Division, and it appeared that Colorado was looking towards the future by giving up on re-signing the star.
Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen (96) attempts to control the puck as Sharks goalie Vitek Vanecek moves into position to block the shot – Photo by Jack Lima
However, things have not gone as many expected. Heading into the 4 Nations break, the team had won four of its last five games, including an impressive 5-4 road win over the Oilers. While the team has only been without Rantanen for a handful of games, the move seems to have breathed new life into this talented team.
The question is whether the team can stay hot after a long break to push into the top three in the season’s final stretch.
Why Rantanen Was Traded
Mikko Rantanen is one of the best players in hockey, but there is a reason why the team decided to ship him off. As with so many other cases, it revolved around money.
The Avs and Rantanen had trouble negotiating a new contract to keep the star in Denver going forward. The Finnish forward is looking for a massive extension, but Colorado has already invested in Cale Makar, Nathan MacKinnon, and Mackenzie Blackwood. That would make it impossible to field much depth if they also found a way to pay Mikko.
While Rantanen wasn’t making the contract dispute an issue in the locker room, we believe the dispute was weighing on the team. You can see that leading up to the trade, going 4-6 over their final ten games with the star. That run included losses to the Blackhawks and Habs, showing that things weren’t right with this NHL powerhouse.
Lehkonen Likely Played a Factor
One reason the Avs were comfortable moving Rantanen was the play of forward Artturi Lehkonen. The 29-year-old currently leads the teams in goals (23) and has already surpassed his previous season high. He has also matched his game total from last season, which was shortened by injuries.
The fellow Finn made it easier for the team to move on from his countryman. The question now is if Lehkonen can keep his hot play up for the remainder of the season. If he doesn’t, the Rantanen trade will likely go down as a savvy move by a well-run team. If he doesn’t, it could set the team on a bad path for years to come.
Avs Front Office Has Boosted Team
While the Avs’ front office has taken some heat for trading Rantanen, they did a masterful job with this roster in the first half of the season. The biggest issue at the beginning of the campaign was goaltending, with Alexandar Georgiev and Justus Annunen both struggling badly.
Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen looks to make a pass – Photo by Jack Lima
Colorado didn’t wait long before adding Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood. This massive upgrade helped save the team’s season. Blackwood has been dominant as the top option, going 14-6 with a 2.13 GAA and .922 save percentage. This turned the position from a weakness into a strength, better supporting the team’s massive offense.
We won’t know the impact of the Rantanen trade for some time, but the early returns look like this was a win for both sides. That is primarily due to Martin Necas, who the Avs got from the trade. The center has the best season of his career and already has nine points in just eight games with the Avs.
What are Sportsbooks Saying?
With the expansion of sports betting across North America, sportsbooks are becoming viewed as league experts. With so much money on the line for each game, these bookmakers have to know their stuff and make the best predictions possible to avoid massive losses. As a result, fans and bettors look to them to get a read on where teams stand.
We have checked out several top sportsbooks listed on bettingtop10.ca to see how they view the new-look Avs. They have the team at the back end of their top ten. In the West, they are firmly behind Edmonton and Dallas, with odds like those of Vegas and Winnipeg.
Are the Avs a Better Team?
Nothing is more important in the playoffs than goaltending. We have seen hot goalies help teams reach the Cup in the past, including with the Panthers last season. Blackwood has been elite and could be the difference for Colorado in the postseason.
We also believe that Martin Necas is going to come closer to Rantanen’s production than many believe. He seems to be a perfect fit for this roster, and we can’t wait to see what he does in the second half of the season.
As hard as it is to believe, we do think this is a better team whose chances at another title just improved.
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