Where is Rantanen?

[Ceremony]

Almost as if all the Avalanche fans who've watched his entire career said this is what he's like knew what they were talking about.

 

[CzarDemidov]

Almost as if all the Avalanche fans who've watched his entire career said this is what he's like knew what they were talking about.

I found it strange Avs fans were lukewarm about losing Rantanen. As a Habs fan I think we'd have a meltdown if a 100pt powerforward winger who already won us a Cup was going to leave. What happened?

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

He's not playing with MacKinnon that's for sure.

 

[Kahvi]

Dallas has scored 7 goals in 4 games, you could ask the same about most their players. One guy with more than 1 ES point (Sam Steel, 0+2).

 

[Ceremony]

I found it strange Avs fans were lukewarm about losing Rantanen. As a Habs fan I think we'd have a meltdown if a 100pt powerforward winger who already won us a Cup was going to leave. What happened?

He got complacent. Or got to used to primarily feeding on whatever MacKinnon and Makar created. Last night I saw him drive to the net on the powerplay which I don't think he's ever done in his life, so maybe he'll adapt, but it might take a while.

 

[landy]

The Avalanche have been pretty amazing defensively. Even when pressured, they can usually quickly flip it out or worst case ice it. Blackwood has been great whenever needed (outside of ot).

Unless he has the puck, Mikko is pretty invisible out there. He doesn’t have the speed to make a difference without it.

 

[flyfysher]

Do you not remember how Rantanen was the #1C for the Avs when MacKinnon was injured? He didn't drive play back then?

I think that the issue more likely is that he's still sulking due to Avs trading him, as he enjoyed it there. I don't think this is about his innate qualities as a player.

Rantanen as 1C? Rantanen stepped up when Mack was injured but that was a long time ago and he wasn’t the same thereafter.

 

[flyfysher]

Not mid season but it’s very similar to the Huberdeau trade where the player was blindsided.

I’ve had the opinion that the Avs should trade Rantanen for a little bit now, huge point producers that aren’t their line drivers like Rants or Huberdeau are usually the kinds of players whose mega contracts turn out poorly.

I think the Oilers should do the same thing with Bouchard this summer. Takes a lot of guts to trade these guys but can work out so long as you correctly identify those players whose point totals are inflated due to their situation.

Takes a tremendous amount of guts for a GM to trade these guys. It takes even more for another GM not to be stupid and sign and overpay these guys.

 

[jalapenoWithAnH]

Joe Pavelski had a similar situation:

His ppg of the last three seasons in San Jose:

• 0,83
• 0,8
• 0,85

His ppg of the first season in Dallas:

• 0,46

His ppg of the next three seasons in Dallas:

• 0,91
• 0,98
• 0,93

DeBoer said it took Pavelski almost a full year to feel comfortable on the ice with Dallas and his stats tell a similar story

 

[Mr Nogatco]

Do you not remember how Rantanen was the #1C for the Avs when MacKinnon was injured? He didn't drive play back then?

I think that the issue more likely is that he's still sulking due to Avs trading him, as he enjoyed it there. I don't think this is about his innate qualities as a player.

you think he’s sulking to the point of half assing it because he’s mad about being traded? If that feeling of betrayal was such a powerful motivator shouldn’t the opposite be happening— emptying the tank against the team that did him dirty?

 

[Cousin Eddie]

Do you not remember how Rantanen was the #1C for the Avs when MacKinnon was injured? He didn't drive play back then?

I think that the issue more likely is that he's still sulking due to Avs trading him, as he enjoyed it there. I don't think this is about his innate qualities as a player.

That was 4 seasons ago. It’s astounding how bad Rantanen has been away from Mackinnon the last few years. He’s been tried at centre a few times and failed miserably. He’s also failed miserably as a winger on any line that didn’t have Mackinnon on it. There were a lot of eye opening stats posted when he was initially traded a few months back. Rantanen has had an inability to create on his own basically since they won the cup.

He’s an ELITE finisher. You can’t take that away from him. He’s been painful to watch outside of that for the last few years though.

 

[BusQuets]

I remember people used to say he's about as good as Kaprizov. It looks like he isn't.

At least wait until Rantanen has only 1 point in 6 games like Kaprizov had in the last playoffs he played.

 

[KingsFan7824]

I can imagine this has something to do with it. Is there another example of 100p scorer who was traded from his first NHL team after 10 years mid season without his knowledge?

There aren't many players who play with one team for ten years to begin with but to have that connection being ripped from you without your knowledge within a short amount of time must be a tough situation.

In addition to losing your teammates I would guess it has an impact on self esteem too when you thought you were important to your franchise. Almost must feel like a betrayal.

This is professional hockey, not a family. 28 year old UFA. Is he oblivious to his own surroundings and life? He's had to pick 9 teams he couldn't be traded to for a couple years. Just last year he saw a former 4th overall pick for the Avs get traded.

 

[Cousin Eddie]

Over the last 3 seasons (including this one up until the trade) 5v5 Mikko Rantanen has played 2549 minutes with Mackinnon and 782 minutes without.

Together they have a cf% of 56.78 and an Xgf% of 55.22.

Rantanen, away from Mackinnon has a cf% of 43.87 and an Xgf% of 41.94.


This isn’t new.

 

[Woodrow]

 

[Kshahdoo]

At least wait until Rantanen has only 1 point in 6 games like Kaprizov had in the last playoffs he played.

Kaprizov played injured, though. Is Rantanen injured?

 

[RoyIsALegend]

I found it strange Avs fans were lukewarm about losing Rantanen. As a Habs fan I think we'd have a meltdown if a 100pt powerforward winger who already won us a Cup was going to leave. What happened?

We spent the last 2 years watching him stand around, not skate, lose puck after puck, just basically wait to score off of MacKinnon and Makar created offense.

For $14m per year like he was first looking for, that's a bad deal.

We are glad our GM identified this and moved him before he hit free agency.

 

[MrHeiskanen]

Rantanen is paid 4.625 million.. he is not paid to be a leader.

 

[AvStock]

I don’t get the Rantanen hate from Avs fans. He absolutely drove play, especially when MacK was injured. Necas sucks and is not a suitable replacement

 

[RoyIsALegend]

Rantanen is paid 4.625 million.. he is not paid to be a leader.

lol

So, starting in September and for the next 8 years, he will be paid to be a leader?

 

[not a troll]

Do you not remember how Rantanen was the #1C for the Avs when MacKinnon was injured? He didn't drive play back then?

I think that the issue more likely is that he's still sulking due to Avs trading him, as he enjoyed it there. I don't think this is about his innate qualities as a player.

That was like for two weeks.

 

[MrHeiskanen]

lol

So, starting in September and for the next 8 years, he will be paid to be a leader?

Correct, there is an adjustment period to a new team - I don't care what he does this year (and I posted that weeks ago btw) and its funny all the stat watchers after a trade.

Time and time again people are fascinated with small sample stats after a trade it's hilarious. I still remember when Gurianov was going to be a superstar in Montreal

 

[Foppberg]

Like others have said, he's not a play driver. He's an elite finisher but not a guy that is going to lead your line.

 

[MrHeiskanen]

I don’t get the Rantanen hate from Avs fans. He absolutely drove play, especially when MacK was injured. Necas sucks and is not a suitable replacement

Should make a Where is Necas? thread and post 4 games, 1 assist

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

I don’t get the Rantanen hate from Avs fans. He absolutely drove play, especially when MacK was injured. Necas sucks and is not a suitable replacement

Necas has his flaws but he doesn’t suck lol