Mikko Rantanen: Major extension to his long-term contract is imminent

July 1 is a big day in the National Hockey League, when the free agent market opens.

From this date on, players without a contract who are unrestricted free agents can sign with any team.
But this date also has another meaning.

It is often forgotten that starting July 1, when NHL players’ remaining contract years decrease by one season, teams can announce contract extensions for players who only have one season left on their contracts.

Kent Hughes did so on July 1, offering Juraj Slafkovsky an eight-year contract extension worth $7.6 million per year.

This puts the 20-year-old Slovakian winger under contract with the Montreal Canadiens for the next nine seasons, as Slafkovsky had one year left on his contract at the NHL entry level.
In short, other teams can also offer contract extensions to players with one season left.
And according to the latest rumors, Colorado Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen is on the verge of signing a massive contract extension in Colorado.

That’s what Jesse Montano, a journalist who covers the Colorado Avalanche, reported.

According to him, a contract extension between both parties is about to begin. It would be a long-term extension, lasting seven or eight seasons.

We don’t yet know the annual value of the potential contract, but it would certainly be more than $10 million per year.

Rantanen is currently receiving $9.25 million for another season, as he has done for the past five seasons.

That’s a lot of money already, but given Rantanen’s recent performance, it’s clear he deserves a raise.

He just completed two consecutive 100+ point seasons, scoring 55 and 42 goals respectively.

That’s huge, and Rantanen would have every right to ask for around $12 million a year for it.

At 27, Rantanen is one of the best players in the entire NHL and certainly deserves that money.

It remains to be seen whether the Avalanche’s Finnish winger will decide to take a bit less money to help his team navigate the salary cap in the coming years.

Stay tuned.

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