Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon Breaks Silence on Mikko Rantanen Trade

Colorado Avalanche captain Nathan MacKinnon spoke candidly about his feelings following the blockbuster trade that sent his longtime teammate Mikko Rantanen away from the only franchise he'd ever played for.

"It's unfortunate," MacKinnon said. “Losing a great friend, great teammate. I’m gonna miss him.

"It sucks. We’ve been together for 9–10 years. We won a Cup together, and it's just sad. I don't exactly know what happened, but I’m gonna miss him a lot.

“I never thought in a million years he’d leave. So, yeah, it just sucks.”

The trade saw Rantanen moved to Carolina as part of a three-team deal that also sent Chicago Blackhawks forward Taylor Hall to the Hurricanes. The Avs, meanwhile, landed Martin Necas and Jack Drury from Carolina, along with a second-round and a fourth-round pick.

"I called Mikko shortly after the trade, we talked for 20 minutes," MacKinnon revealed. "It’s just tough. He’s such a great person, a great teammate."

MacKinnon also acknowledged the tough business decision behind the trade, in a move that seemed from the Avs' failure to reach an agreement for the extension of Rantanen's expiring contract next July.

The Avalanche captain, however, clarified that he wasn’t concerned with salary disputes or Rantanen signing a larger deal and his current one, set at $12.6 million average annual value.

“I don't care (about money)," MacKinnon said. "I want guys to get paid. I think he’s earned it. Mikko has earned a big payday. He scored 50, 100 points every season.”

The Avalanche lost their first game without Rantanen, dropping a matchup against the Boston Bruins 3-1 on the road and falling to a 28-20-2 record on the season, still good to lead the Western Conference's wild-card race with 58 points.

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Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon Breaks Silence on Mikko Rantanen Trade

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