I've stated previously in this thread (with statistical backing) that I believe Drouin could be that guy a full year next to MacKinnon. A guy like Seth Jarvis is another example. You are able to find those guys, or guys that are capable of those numbers for a fraction of the price. Zach Hyman, Carter Verhaghe... they exist - and that's without factoring the ~10 point bump players get from joining the Avs.
Just find a ~60-65 point guy and put him next to MacKinnon and he will get 70-80 points.
And in saying this I do believe it's easier to find one of those guys in a Rants trade than to find solid/reliable 3rd liners/2nd pair D to play for close to league min
To put it in simple terms, I think a large cohort of people believe we are a better team in the long run with the money to re-sign Drouin & Walker(or players like them) + a Rantanen trade return than we are with Rantanen + lower quality replacements for Drouin + Walker, and I think it's a valid argument/discussion. A smaller cohort just refuses to accept that line of thinking.
You’re assuming guys like Drouin or Seth Jarvis could put up 70 points next to Mackinnon while we KNOW that Rantanen can put up 50/100 with him.
You’re willing to gamble on trading away an elite scorer and a guy who has crazy chemistry with the best player in the world for a maybe? That’s not a gamble I would be willing to take.
Guys like Jonathan Drouin and Seth Jarvis can had had every single year. They can be had because they are league average players who don’t move the needle at all.
Whereas guys like Rantanen are NEVER available for trade or in free agency.
We traded O’Reilly becauae we didn’t want to pay him and we instantly became worse.
And that large cohort of people who believe we would be better off without Rantanen are flat out wrong.
We trade:
Mikko Rantanen (extended for 8x12.5)
For:
50-60 point player signed for +/- 5 mil
A good prospect
Top 15 draft pick
Jonathan Drouin (signed for 3x4)
Sean Walker (signed for 4x4)
With Rantanen:
Lehkonen- Mackinnon- Rantanen
Landeskog- Mittlestadt- Nichuskin
Wood- Colton- Kovalenko
4th line - who cares. They play 5 minutes a night
Toews - Makar
Girard - Manson
Bottom pair- who cares
Georgiev
Annunen
Without Rantanen:
Drouin- Mackinnon- Nichushkin
Landeskog- Mittlestadt- 50 point player from trade
Lehkonen- Colton- Kovalenko
Wood- Who cares
Toews - Makar
Girard - Manson
? - Walker
Georgiev
Annunen
I’m still keeping Rantanen without a doubt.