You're completely and utterly alone on this and yet you're still pushing it? I guess you're consistent at least.
I didn't know we all had to agree on this subject, am i not allowed to express my opinion in here?
You see, you are acting like a fan, while i'm trying to think like the GM. You are excited by the year we are having and it clouds your judgment (not that it was ever very good in your case). You can't even think about what could go wrong for Rantanen and the entire team next year. But let's see:
1) This is the Avalanche, we've had two cinderela seasons over the past decade and they were followed by crap seasons, so there is a distinct possibilite that we get back down to earth next season.
2) MacKinnon is having a Hart worthy season, and it has had an obvious impact on Rantanen's numbers. Will MacKinnon keep this 1.39 PPG pace through next season? I doubt he will and therefore there is a good chance Rantanen won't keep his PPG pace either.
3) Injuries. What if Mackinnon goes down with a serious injurie and has to miss half the season? How would that affect Rantanen's play and production? Or Rantanen, what if Rantanen gets an injury and has to play "banged up" for a chunk of the season, affecting his play and production?
4) There are more than 20 players that are at a PPG pace or higher this season, when was the last time this happened? Is this a new trend? Or maybe the numbers are going down next season?
If this were the last year of his ELC i could see him demand the same deal Draisaitl got, but this is not, Sakic doesn't have to close a deal right now. Many things could happen in an 82 game season.
If he can keep this kind of production, great!! Pay him 9M, 10M, at least you are way more confident that he is "the real deal" so to speak.
But there is a good chance his production drops to 0.80 - 0.90 PPG (and that is still good), that would give him 65-75 points. If that happens you can give him the same 8M contract people are suggesting to give him right now. If for some reason his production drops a little more you can sign him for even less.
So, unless he is willing to sign this year and give Sakic a nice discount (closer to MacK's contract than Drai's) than Sakic can just wait another year. Like i said, no rush.
BTW, weren't you the one saying the Oilers overpaid Draisaitl after one great season and that his contract was bad? I could swear it was you.