Adrian Dater
I’m still not worried about this. It’s still only Aug. 26, and a good 18 days remain before Avalanche players must report to the Pepsi Center for physicals, with regular training camp starting the following day – Sept. 13. I’m not worried about the fact that it’s Aug. 26 and there still is no contract between Mikko Rantanen and the Avalanche.
OK, maybe a little worried.
So, here’s the latest I can report on the Rantanen situation:
No deal is imminent. No deal is close. The sides are quite a bit apart. That’s what I can report, based on talks with a couple of sources.
The two sides have talked. They’ve exchanged proposals. But they’re not all that close on the numbers. Not yet anyway.
Now look, the same things apply that applied a couple weeks ago, when I last reported on this. A lot of big-name guys remain unsigned around the league, all restricted free agents like Rantanen. Mitch Marner. Brayden Point. Matthew Tkachuk. Zach Werenski. Patrik Laine. Brock Boeser. Kyle Connor. Charlie McAvoy.
This is getting a bit weird though, I must say. Having this many quality players unsigned, this close to training camp, is unusual. And when you hear that two sides aren’t all that close, as is the case with Rantanen and the Avs, you do wonder a little. Someone’s going to have to budge. Someone’s going to have to compromise. Of course, both sides are going to have to compromise probably – and hopefully they each realize that. But who gives in the most? Who might suddenly get all ticked off over things and retreat into a stubborn, take-it-or-leave-it stance?
The team always has the most leverage in these situations, in my opinion. Players who lose salary over a holdout can never get it back. Their careers are only so long. But, of course, the Avs really need Rantanen. They are a worse team without him, no question about it.
My experience has always been that things often don’t get really serious until the final days. If it’s Sept. 12 and there still is no deal with Rantanen, it’ll obviously be time to worry that much more. But keep this in mind too: Players won’t get their first paychecks for this coming season until Oct. 15. Players are paid on the 1st and 15th of every month IN-SEASON ONLY. They are paid during the regular season, their entire salaries, and that’s it. (They can receive signing bonuses on new contracts signed during the summer) or in September-to-opening-night.
What you worry about here, obviously, is this turning into another Ryan O’Reilly situation, from 2012-13, where the sides become so entrenched to their positions that talks essentially break off.
I just don’t see that happening here. I think both sides know they need each other, that they’ll both lose if this thing were somehow to drag on into the regular season.
When two sides know they need each other, deals usually get done. I think that will still happen here. But anytime soon, like soon soon?
Apparently not.
Meanwhile, Rantanen currently is skating with a Norwegian pro team right now, as this tweet today shows. Let’s hope he doesn’t start feeling too comfortable there.