The Colorado Avalanche could be forced to navigate a challenging situation as they try to secure a contract extension for star forward Mikko Rantanen.
According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the Avs' are hesitant to pay Rantanen more than Nathan MacKinnon’s $12.6 million annual cap hit, the highest in franchise history and currently in Colorado's books.
Speaking on SiriusXM’s NHL Morning Skate (via NHL Rumors.com), Friedman highlighted the potential hurdle the Avalanche will face as the league’s salary cap is expected to rise next summer when Rantanen is scheduled to become a free agent.
“Most people believe Rantanen wants to stay in Colorado,” Friedman said. “But the (Leon) Draisaitl number ($14 million average annual value) and the rising cap—it’s fudged around with everything.
"They got Nate making $12.6 million, and I think they don’t want to pay [Rantanen] more than Nate. I think that’s been the issue to this point."
As Friedman pointed out, last season saw Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl sign the biggest contract in NHL history in terms of AAV, sitting at $14 million per season. Once the deal kicks in next summer, it will overtake clear-cut no. 1 Oilers player Connor McDavid's AAV of $12.5 million.
That could also be the case in Colorado as long as the Avalanche are happy with paying Rantanen more than they're doing MacKinnon, who signed an eight-year, $100.8 million deal in the 2022 offseason.
According to PuckPedia, MacKinnon's cap hit of $12.6 million took 15.09% of the Avalanche's salary cap. Even if Rantanen signs for a lower percentage of 15%, he'd still make more than MacKinnon ($13.86 million AAV) assuming the salary cap rises to a reported $92.4 million.
For Rantanen to earn less money (let's say, $12.5 million AAV) than MacKinnon, he'd need to accept to take on "only" a 13.5% of Colorado's full salary cap.
According to TSN's Pierre LeBrun, however, that's far from a realistic possibility considering Rantanen's valuation of his talents.
“I will tell you, right now, I think Rantanen believes he can make $14M AAV on the open market,” LeBrun said on TSN's "Insider Trading" on Nov. 28.
While both sides appear interested in an extension, Friedman noted the situation remains fluid, with the rising cap introducing an unexpected but real hurdle both sides will need to clear.
