“The Avs aren’t going to pay Mitch Marner money”
That’s what Pierre LeBrun writes in his latest column for The Athletic (subscription required), which examines some of the ongoing negotiations around the league including the one in Colorado with Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen. While they aren’t ready to pay up to the $10.893MM average annual value Marner received from the Toronto Maple Leafs, LeBrun reports that the team did make Rantanen a long-term offer earlier this month and that they would match an offer sheet “in a heartbeat.”
Rantanen’s agent Mike Liut hit the airwaves this week and turned some stomachs in Colorado when he compared his client to Marner directly, noting that they both are playmaking wingers (though he admitted they go about their offensive games a bit differently). The 22-year old has actually outscored Marner if you combine the last two seasons, and has 13 more goals in his career despite playing fewer games. It’s hard to argue that the pair don’t belong in the same tax bracket, but the Avalanche apparently don’t see it that way.
The Avalanche have plenty of cap room if they ever wanted to go that high, but still have to worry about a few other contracts down the line. Nathan MacKinnon is locked into one of the best contracts in the league for the next four years, but Gabriel Landeskog, Philipp Grubauer and Cale Makar will all need new deals in the summer of 2021. Obviously there is time to handle those negotiations even if Rantanen gets a big deal, but locking him into “Marner money” won’t be the outcome here.
One plays with an overall #1 pick center and the other plays with an overall #1 pick center. Take them away from those centers and whaddya got? Rantanen should take his 8 or 9 million and just play hockey.
“Rantanen should take his 8 or 9 million and just play hockey.” + AND stop being a CAP-CANNIBAL!
Tough times for Winnipeg , Colorado , and Tampa Bay who at beginning of year were suppose to be in big competition for cup , not including Calgary . Without a few cornerstones of each of these teams. with what looks like they will miss training camps, exhibition games and the start of season or more.
As an Avs fan this makes me want to throw up. We’ve always been a cheap team. Pay that man his money.
cant believe theyre messing around w something like this
Avs do have over $15,616,239 in cap space , 2021 is few years off for the 3 mentioned above , sure they will have players come off books before then , everybody is trying to best the Marner deal but agree with , take your 9 million , maybe some for incentive based contract and get on ice and play hockey , same as for the others that are wanting to be top dog or as mac says it best Cap – Cannibal .
And to second that with a poor text-based impression of the Legendary Gabby Johnson: “Rerr Rum!”