Confirmed with Link: [COL, CAR, CHI] Rantanen-Hall to CAR, Necas-Drury-25 2nd-26 4th to COL, Chi 25 3rd to Chi (Ret 50% on Mikko)

[cinchronicity]

Some folks here seem to border on glee about Mikko's tough start in Carolina. Every last one of us should be praying that he does well, lest Carolina trade him to Dallas or Vegas. We want Mikko in the Eastern Conference so that IF we meet Mikko in the playoffs, it is in the SCF. I DO NOT want to see Mikko in the 1st round of the playoffs.

 

[niwotsblessing]

Some folks here seem to border on glee about Mikko's tough start in Carolina. Every last one of us should be praying that he does well, lest Carolina trade him to Dallas or Vegas. We want Mikko in the Eastern Conference so that IF we meet Mikko in the playoffs, it is in the SCF. I DO NOT want to see Mikko in the 1st round of the playoffs.

Watching Big Sam Malinski take the puck away from him and knock him on his butt would be hilarious.

 

[a mangy Meowth]

Some folks here seem to border on glee about Mikko's tough start in Carolina. Every last one of us should be praying that he does well, lest Carolina trade him to Dallas or Vegas. We want Mikko in the Eastern Conference so that IF we meet Mikko in the playoffs, it is in the SCF. I DO NOT want to see Mikko in the 1st round of the playoffs.

I'm filled with glee whenever any team that isn't the Avalanche does poorly. Don't persecute me for being a fan.

 

[The Abusement Park]

Watching Big Sam Malinski take the puck away from him and knock him on his butt would be hilarious.

Ha. That's a good one.

 

[Foppa2118]

I said it at the time and I meant it. Everything Ismo Lehkonen said was accurate.

Ismo also said this at the time though.

"My appreciation for Mikko is sky high. He's a Iivo Niskanen-type (A Finnish cross-country skier) bull and an Olympic level athlete, who won't leave any stone unturned to get better."

"He had a lot of responsibilities during the summer. First the WC-tournament took a long period of time, then there were sponsor events, junior hockey events and all kinds of other stuff. The calendar could've been emptied a little bit, so that summer could've been better used."

"When your body is in the red, experienced players, like Mikko, know, how you recover from that. They know what they need to do after games and between games to give their bodies the recovery time it needs. All players have their own methods for that."

"Sometimes Mikko has been a center, sometimes on the right wing, sometimes on the left. His job has gotten so multifaceted, that it doesn't make things any easier."

"Mikko is on an elite level in that. Even when tired he can make decisions in that league", Lehkonen praises.

"If Mikko can stay healthy, he'll absolutely hit 100 points and more. He's the kinda player every defenseman has hard time playing against."

Reddit Translation

 

[CobraAcesS]

Ismo also said this at the time though.

"My appreciation for Mikko is sky high. He's a Iivo Niskanen-type (A Finnish cross-country skier) bull and an Olympic level athlete, who won't leave any stone unturned to get better."

"He had a lot of responsibilities during the summer. First the WC-tournament took a long period of time, then there were sponsor events, junior hockey events and all kinds of other stuff. The calendar could've been emptied a little bit, so that summer could've been better used."

"When your body is in the red, experienced players, like Mikko, know, how you recover from that. They know what they need to do after games and between games to give their bodies the recovery time it needs. All players have their own methods for that."

"Sometimes Mikko has been a center, sometimes on the right wing, sometimes on the left. His job has gotten so multifaceted, that it doesn't make things any easier."

"Mikko is on an elite level in that. Even when tired he can make decisions in that league", Lehkonen praises.

"If Mikko can stay healthy, he'll absolutely hit 100 points and more. He's the kinda player every defenseman has hard time playing against."

Reddit Translation

Well he needs to get back to that.

 

[Foppa2118]

From trade thread:

People are noticing what I noticed in Carolina. Mikko does actually seem more active, and to be playing with more jam, it's just not yielding positive results.

This is interesting. I haven't had time to watch the Canes games. I'd like to hear more about this if you have any insights?

Seems to counter the narrative that seems to be forming that he's being lazy with Carolina. I've never agreed with that really. I think it's mostly optics from his style, and how he conserves energy as a big man, like we talked about before.

Perhaps there's a chemistry issue?

Mikko played for the Avs a very long time and he usually played with the same people. Now he's got an entire team of people he hasn't really played with, on top of a new style to adjust to, on top of a new routine, on top of the whirlwind of emotions.

 

[CobraAcesS]

From trade thread:


This is interesting. I haven't had time to watch the Canes games. I'd like to hear more about this if you have any insights?

Seems to counter the narrative that seems to be forming that he's being lazy with Carolina. I've never agreed with that really. I think it's mostly optics from his style, and how he conserves energy as a big man, like we talked about before.

Perhaps there's a chemistry issue?

Mikko played for the Avs a very long time and he usually played with the same people. Now he's got an entire team of people he hasn't really played with, on top of a new style to adjust to, on top of a new routine, on top of the whirlwind of emotions.

He's not floating as much as he did with us, but he still does it at times. He looks way more gassed at the end of games.

It just doesn't look like he can play at a higher tempo consistently and keep his shot accuracy up.

Everything to me screams he's trying harder, but isn't getting the results.

Mikko & Mitts look like they're having the same issue at completely different levels.

My thoughts on all of that type of stuff are well known now though. I think it's something Mikko can fix. He needs to cut some weight and get lighter IMO.

Think back to when Mack took himself up to like 210 or 220 or whatever it was.

 

[Foppa2118]

He's not floating as much as he did with us, but he still does it at times. He looks way more gassed at the end of games.

It just doesn't look like he can play at a higher tempo consistently and keep his shot accuracy up.

Everything to me screams he's trying harder, but isn't getting the results.

Mikko & Mitts look like they're having the same issue at completely different levels.

My thoughts on all of that type of stuff are well known now though. I think it's something Mikko can fix. He needs to cut some weight and get lighter IMO.

Think back to when Mack took himself up to like 210 or 220 or whatever it was.

This might be confirmation bias on my part, but the bolded aligns with my thoughts on why Mikko plays that style, and why optically it might look like he's not trying hard.

It's just incredibly taxing on the body for someone that size, to generate the force to skate as fast as required in today's NHL, while at the same time playing a physical, grinding style, shift in shift out, game in game out, for 82 games + playoffs. Multiple seasons and multiple playoffs runs on top of that.

If you're a 3rd or 4th line low skill grinder, playing 10-12 minute a game, sure you migth be able to play that style.

But as a top line guy, playing 18-20 minutes every night, as a high skill work horse that's supposed to be able to play that grinding physical style, and then calm your heart rate down, and have gas left in the tank to read the ice, and make a skill play, that's entirely different, and a lot to ask.

Mikko would battle physically every once in a while. He wasn't completely devoid of this. He just didn't do it every shift and every game. But he still put up points most nights.

Mikko finding ways to conserve energy during shifts, kinda points to what Ismo was talking about in that quote above. He's talking about before/after games, but I think it applies to within games as well.

"When your body is in the red, experienced players, like Mikko, know, how you recover from that. They know what they need to do after games and between games to give their bodies the recovery time it needs. All players have their own methods for that."

 

[expatriatedtexan]

Yeah, I only watched his first full game, but he appeared more engaged without the puck than I've seen him in a bit. It was a bittersweet site.

Can't say how that's held up but I looking at Necas and Drury, it seems everyone he's got is at least really responsible defensively (Necas) to darn good (Dru).

I have a feeling Rod demands a higher level of defense from his star forwads than Bednar does. That alone, might limit his minutes in order to keep him fresher...which in turn, with a guy whose got his deadly of a shot, could be a good thing to get a few minutes less a night. Not sure, but I do hope he and the Canes figure it and he does well there. He's going to fall in love at his first pig-pull. There's just something about that vinnegar based bbq sauce that complements pork so well.

 

[The Abusement Park]

From trade thread:


This is interesting. I haven't had time to watch the Canes games. I'd like to hear more about this if you have any insights?

Seems to counter the narrative that seems to be forming that he's being lazy with Carolina. I've never agreed with that really. I think it's mostly optics from his style, and how he conserves energy as a big man, like we talked about before.

Perhaps there's a chemistry issue?

Mikko played for the Avs a very long time and he usually played with the same people. Now he's got an entire team of people he hasn't really played with, on top of a new style to adjust to, on top of a new routine, on top of the whirlwind of emotions.

It's most likely that. Adjusting from Mack who's going 1000mph 24/7 is wayyy different to playing with Aho. Will take a little bit to adjust I would imagine.

Plus he has 21 shots in 6 games and is shooting 4.8% and has an OISH% of 4.5%. Get him back to his career averages and he's looking at ~3 goals and ~3 assists and there's no conversation about how "bad" he's been.

 

[CobraAcesS]

It's most likely that. Adjusting from Mack who's going 1000mph 24/7 is wayyy different to playing with Aho. Will take a little bit to adjust I would imagine.

Plus he has 21 shots in 6 games and is shooting 4.8% and has an OISH% of 4.5%. Get him back to his career averages and he's looking at ~3 goals and ~3 assists and there's no conversation about how "bad" he's been.

He's doing the Canes thing though and shooting from everywhere. Expect a drop in shooting percentage, but I'd imagine it should still normalize some closer to 10%.

He's just too good for it not to.

 

[NOTENOUGHRYJOTHINGS]

@a mangy Meowth props for whatever it was you did in the Rants UFA thread on the main boards. You somehow got a bunch of canuckleheads to jump into the fray with fanfics about Petterson having sex with men.

I was reading from last page to first (like God intended) from the bottom up and BOOM. EP sex with men post out of nowhere.

What is the saying? Game respects game? I bow to you sir/ma'am. Masterful work.

 

[a mangy Meowth]

@a mangy Meowth props for whatever it was you did in the Rants UFA thread on the main boards. You somehow got a bunch of canuckleheads to jump into the fray with fanfics about Petterson having sex with men.

I was reading from last page to first (like God intended) from the bottom up and BOOM. EP sex with men post out of nowhere.

What is the saying? Game respects game? I bow to you sir/ma'am. Masterful work.

lol you give me too much credit. Canucks fans are constantly teetering on the edge of a complete meltdown

 

[The Merchant]

 

[a mangy Meowth]

holy shit lol

 

[CobraAcesS]

Mikko Rantanen is the better playmaker, confirmed.

 

[Avs_19]

The recently former Colorado Avalanche star did get a few inquiries about the event, but the majority of his media session was dedicated to the seismic trade that sent him to the Carolina Hurricanes.

“Yeah, it’s different, for sure,” Rantanen said Friday afternoon at Bell Centre. “A lot of questions, which I understand. It was a big trade, and a big change. It’s been alright. I’ve been able to answer all the questions, so it’s all good.”

He does have an apartment now in Raleigh but hasn’t spent much time there.

“I think it’s only been two weeks, so I think it’s too quick to get settled after a long time in the other place,” Rantanen said. “We were on the road a little bit, so many games. I was just focused on the games. I think it’s going to take some time, for sure.”

Someone asked Rantanen at media day if he’s noticed that Necas is playing so well in his old spot.

“I try to focus on my stuff,” Rantanen said. “You see scores. I haven’t watched games, because it’s so early. I’ve been trying to focus on my own thing. I wish the best for everybody, for everybody in the league. I’m not against anybody.”

The questions to them have been worded differently, with their time as his teammate in the past tense.

“I don’t think it will be as sentimental as it will be when we play him in Colorado,” Toews said. “He’s done so much for the organization. A (Stanley) Cup winner, a great person — the fan base loves him, and rightfully so. He deserves that. I think that will be a little more emotional than playing him on this stage where there’s not that history involved.

“Either way, it’s definitely going to be different seeing him on the other side.”

For Artturi Lehkonen, it’s also a very different situation. He spent the first game against the United States on Finland’s top line, playing next to Rantanen and Aleksander Barkov.

That became a reunion, instead of a continuation of their work together.

“I talked to him for a little bit after the trade. It’s kind of weird, I would say,” Lehkonen said. “But also at the same time, like nothing has changed with our relationship. We’re still talking about the same stuff all the time.

“He’s a good friend of mine, so it sucks. It’s part of the business.”

I feel for Mikko. I've yet to see/hear that goofball we know since the trade happened. Yeah, he chose this and you can call him greedy or whatever you want but it's really too bad. I hope he finds success there soon.

Trade couldn't be going any better for the Avs.

 

[UnkleKraker]

He does have an apartment now in Raleigh but hasn’t spent much time there.

“I think it’s only been two weeks, so I think it’s too quick to get settled after a long time in the other place,” Rantanen said. “We were on the road a little bit, so many games. I was just focused on the games. I think it’s going to take some time, for sure.”

Why would I buy a house if I aint staying here?

 

[Hasbro]

I feel for Mikko. I've yet to see/hear that goofball we know since the trade happened. Yeah, he chose this and you can call him greedy or whatever you want but it's really too bad. I hope he finds success there soon.

Trade couldn't be going any better for the Avs.

I remember it took Owen Nolan a long time to get over being traded from the Avs.

 

[Muffin]

I feel for Mikko. I've yet to see/hear that goofball we know since the trade happened. Yeah, he chose this and you can call him greedy or whatever you want but it's really too bad. I hope he finds success there soon.

Trade couldn't be going any better for the Avs.

He can come back at 11x7.

 

[Colorado Avalanche]

Yeah, this guy is nowhere near MacK or McDavid level. This tournament shows. He lacks the skating to be super effective. He is a finisher. That's it.

I think we dodged a bullet.

 

[Vaslof]

He can come back at 11x7.

I don't think we have the cap space even for 11M now.

 

[NMAvsman]

Yeah, this guy is nowhere near MacK or McDavid level. This tournament shows. He lacks the skating to be super effective. He is a finisher. That's it.

I think we dodged a bullet.

He can be when he is in "carry the team" moose mode, but again we haven't seen in for a couple of years (Nate injury). If it was possible to pay Necas, let Landy inspire from the bench assistant coaching, and pick Mikko back up, obviously I'm in. Mikko killing the cap at 12-13 million....nope. I've seen too much of Necas already to know that he is too perfect a fit here. We can't let him go.

 

[AvsCOL]

Impressive.