This. As soon as Duchene got booted, MacK embraced the role of #1 center and started flying.
[COL, CAR, CHI] Rantanen-Hall to CAR, Necas-Drury-25 2nd-26 4th to COL, Chi 25 3rd to Chi (Ret 50% on Mikko)
- Thread starter Bill Peckerskull
- Start date
Richard88
John 3:16
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Rantanen not being a good hockey player at the NHL level was probably the best kept secret in the league. They don't know it yet but he isn't getting better than that. He will produce more points but he won't get better.
LOFIN
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Is your natural instinct just to disagree with anything that is posted in this thread or what?
expatriatedtexan
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No doubt that after having watched Pauly Walnuts walk, ROR get traded and Duchene pissing and moaning for over a year before getting traded there is no doubt in my mind that it all accumulated to that massive click that happened in Nate's head.
Overnight he realized this was his team and it would only go as far as he, Landy, EJ and Mikko were willing to push themselves. I like to think that Landy, EJ, and Nate at least were sickened by Duchene's attitude and crying about wanting to go play with some other team in the playoffs rather than earning it with his own team. That had to stick in their craw a bit.
TruePowerSlave
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So the Rantanen experience. Can't drive his own line, not reliable to gain zone entries, stands around way too much and looks lazy.
Only now he doesn't have two top 5 players feeding him the puck so maybe finally his actual level of play will be reflected in point totals.
I remember those games and MacKinnon was starting to figure it out while Duchene was still around. People only started noticing after the trade was over with.
If there was one weird coincidence that I recall that felt like it triggered something in 29 (but really didn't) it was when he got high-sticked in the face by Derek Grant in that game against the Ducks. It was a total accident and IIRC Grant felt terrible about it, luckily it was just a minor injury but I swear his play just started taking off after that happened. I'm pretty sure that game took place way before the trade.
BobRossColton
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flyfysher
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This was the quote that got me.
“In the end though, we need to give him time. May not even really get settled in until next season for all we know, but I don't think hes a $12m player anyways, probably more like $9m. Still happy we got him though idc about the price
”Doesn’t care about $3M? Holy moly!
Landy(7M) + Necas(6.5M) vs Rantanen(12M) + Plug(1M)
13.5M vs 13M.... Moving Rantanen out basically gave them the exact amount of space they needed to bring Landy back off LTIR next year without making any other moves to the rest of the roster.
You can have 1 Rantanen at 12M or you can have 4.8 Miles Woods
AhosDatsyukian
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What do y'all think of Necas now that we're quite a bit further into the trade? I haven't really been able to keep up with watching him on the Avs. Seems like our fanbases feel similarly about Rantanen and are both glad to have moved on from him. I'm still upset we gave up Necas ultimately for bits and pieces in the Dallas part of the trade.
MaKarter
Big Game Bo
Ararana
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I would have traded Rantanen for Necas 1 for 1, honestly.
flyfysher
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Love his ability to penetrate the zone. Not as polished a finisher as Rants but still an excellent scorer. I would do the trade again without hesitation.
AhosDatsyukian
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Yeah I think everyone would agree Necas > Rantanen given the larger context, but I was trying to see if his game has developed at all in Colorado and playing with Mack/Makar. Obviously he started very hot and production has slowed down but has he started to frustrate you guys with that lack of production? I have always been a big Necas fan even with his faults and never wanted us to move him even if he didn't keep developing further, but even I could never deny he was a flawed player. I was hoping he'd fix those flaws in Carolina and I still do like him so hope he fixes some of those flaws in Denver now. So looking for your perspective on his game there (in a vacuum, not compared to Rantanen).
Freaky Styley
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Not sure where the best place to post this, but figured it's as good a place as any before the playoff threads open up.
I'll be driving from Mexico to Canada in about 2 weeks, and likely passing through Dallas during round one (I'll plan for it in fact). The lady isn't a hockey fan so curious if there's anyone around that I could catch a game with. It'll be my first Avs playoff game in almost 30 years of fandom
I'll be driving from Mexico to Canada in about 2 weeks, and likely passing through Dallas during round one (I'll plan for it in fact). The lady isn't a hockey fan so curious if there's anyone around that I could catch a game with. It'll be my first Avs playoff game in almost 30 years of fandom
Freaky Styley
Registered User
I think it's a different situation. Even though he was the main piece of the Rantanen trade, I don't think expectations are as high on him here as they were in Carolina without so many dynamic offensive talents. The Avs have MacKinnon and Makar carrying the load, Necas just has to be himself. He's not a perfect player but there hasn't been anything to complain about. He's started shooting more again which would have been my one complaint after the first couple of games.
He got moved down with Nelson last game so we will see how long that sticks. If he can help carry that 2nd line he will be extremely valuable for the Avs. What I have liked (unlike most of the team) he doesn't always defer to Mack and he wants to carry the puck and drive offense. He just needs to keep doing what he's doing and he will produce. Amount of production doesn't matter as much when you're the 2nd wave of attack
Love Necas's speed and ability to enter the zone, he's like a souped-up Andre Burakovsky, and I (mostly) liked Burky. He's also been a boon on the power play where things had gotten REALLY bad, his ability to move around a lot better changed everything.
But I can't just look at the trade with Necas alone, Drury has been a really big addition as well, because prior to that the Avs were having to use poor Parker Kelly as a 3C and he did the best he could, but dude is not a third liner and he isn't really a center either. He's gotten even better now that the Avs have Coyle and Drury is able to crash and bang with more intensity as a 4th liner. The trade allowed for some desperately-needed depth.
I still remain a big Moose fan but the trade has worked wonders, I don't regret the Avs doing it.
flyfysher
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I like his aggressiveness on broken plays with Mack. He moves his feet and has an active stick. Speed kills. It’s a little premature to give an assessment because JB just tried him out with Nelson. That flexibility is invaluable. IMO, he makes the offense and PP a lot more dynamic.
Sea Eagles
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Crazy how someone so big, is also so supersonic. Fits right in.
Colorado Avalanche
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It's hilarious because that's exactly how he has played here. He is the finisher. Right spot at the right time. They expected someone who creates million chances.
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And people were telling us a GM can never win a trade when he deals away the best player. One more time.......it is all about the return, and if you get cap space as well it is all about what you do with it.
LOFIN
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