He's in a perfect position for success so I don't see him wanting to leave the only NHL team he has played for. It has to be home to him by now, and all his professional successes have come with this group. I'd imagine that would be hard to leave. How much does it matter to a super rich person if they can make 2-3 million dollars more somewhere else, when they make over 10 million a year? Greed isn't actually celebrated or appreciated in his culture either. What does a Finn need that much money for? You can only retire in one lakeside cabin.
Obviously the agent will tell him to hold and raise his value as much as possible before opening negotiations. His job is to get the biggest penny from it.
Also Rantanen doesn't seem to me to be that kind of greedy. I mean, to the level that "Fine, I'll go elsewhere". And absolutely the agent tried to get as good contract as possible done.
There's very few cases in somewhat recent history where a player of this caliber actually moved. Panarin and Tavares for example. Both moved from a "never won a cup and doesn't look all that great right now either"-team to some kind of a dream destination. I don't think Rantanen has such a destination and no matter how badly you think Avalanche sucks based on last night, they still are one of the "pretty much contenders"-teams of the NHL.
Also, even if the media now says "Rantanen leaving Colorado?!?!
",I think I can find for every single similar level player that didn't sign an extension instantly a similar story - along with a story that tells how he is now signed and is extremely happy to stay there.
The reason why Panthers players sign cheap deals. Easier to have success when a couple of people don't cost half the roster, like Leafs. If winning is the goal then taking a bit less might help in that. If he just wants to maximize money, he'll get that elsewhere.
While I'm not saying you are wrong, I say that taxes is one reason for that.
I'd also remind of the information that Florida has absolutely dominated East. Has any other state team this decade won Eastern Finals?
