Lol. What contender can offer Mikko more money than Colorado?
I'm pretty sure he himself feels they can still win, he knows they have these great players. Easier to build around them than to go to a rebuilding team and start to build around there.
If Nick Kypreos has any clue (and he does have some legit sources), the problem isn't Mikko wanting Draisaitl money. It's that the Avs are not going anywhere near MacKinnon money for him. Which is good, basic negotiating and probably some guys here are saying "good, he doesn't deserve as much!". But the fact is that he would be the highest paid winger in the history of the league if he entered free agency.
It will still end up being 12x8