DATER: Mikko Rantanen At 2C Isn’t Bad, But Isn’t What’s Best For Avalanche (+)

Count me among those who don’t believe putting Mikko Rantanen as the de facto replacement for Nazem Kadri, should he leave, is the right solution for the Colorado Avalanche.

Jared Bednar does not consult me on personnel decisions, so No. 96 may well start the season as the new second-line center. But I don’t think that’s what would be best for the team. Here’s why:

Centers have to do more than wingers. They have to play deeper in the defensive zone. They have to play with their back to the net a lot of the time. That’s not a shooting position. A tip-in position, sure, but I’d rather have Mikko Rantanen facing the net and putting his great wrist/slap shots to little open spaces in the net.

Centers have to do more skating, usually, than wingers. They have to take faceoffs. It takes a good couple years, minimum, to become a great faceoff guy if you haven’t done it your whole life. Rantanen is better along the wall and behind the net, keeping control of pucks with his big body and either whipping off shots from the side or spotting others for good passes/scoring chances.

I’d still rather have Rantanen on the right side, next to Nathan MacKinnon and Gabe Landeskog. Sure, Rantanen did OK in fill-in jobs when Kadri was hurt in the second round against Edmonton. But that’s just not his natural position.

Alex Newhook, for me, is a better choice as 2C. Yeah, he’s probably too green still to take on such a big responsibility. But that’s where he should land at some point not too far into his career.

I still think the Avalanche will import another center if Kadri leaves. But that might not happen until the trade deadline. But, let’s start the season to see if Newhook can handle it. If he thrives, there’s your 2C. If not, there’s the trade market. Some team, out of the playoffs, will have players available. Last week, we examined the possibility of Jonathan Toews coming here. He’d be my choice as a playoff rental. But that’s me.

What say you, Avalanche fan, on Rantanen being a 2C?