Evan’s NHL Daily: Aho’s Extension, Rantanen Hockey Academy

You can cross one more name off the list of best free agents in the NHL in 2024, as the Carolina Hurricanes locked up their top forward on Wednesday for a very long time.

With the Colorado Avalanche, they re-signed their last remaining free agent, and Mikko Rantanen’s hockey camp is underway in Finland.

All that and more in this Thursday edition of Evan’s Daily.

Colorado Hockey Now

I put out a poll to check the pulse of the fanbase and see which of the new Avalanche acquisitions they were most excited to watch next year.

Later in the day, the Avalanche locked up Ben Meyers for one-year, leaving Colorado with around $2 million in cap space. Meyers did well, as he was able to secure a one-way contract from Colorado.

#GoAvsGo re-signed F Ben Meyers to a one-year, $775K contract (1-way).

Will be RFA with $813,750 QO on expiry

4 goals in 39 NHL GP last season@PuckPedia https://t.co/6IUNxXuPgP

— NHL News (@PuckReportNHL) July 26, 2023

Meyers also celebrated with a big game in Da Beauty League.

Ben Meyers today:
✅ Hat trick in Da Beauty League
✅ Re-sign with the Avalanche

🎥: @FloHockey
📺: https://t.co/8TH7GrMsJx#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/pLKNP6gfVE

— Da Beauty League (@DaBeautyLeague) July 26, 2023

Rantanen Hockey Academy

Mikko Rantanen is coming off his best season in the NHL, and over in Finland, he’s doing what he can to help out the youth hockey players in his home country. This week, the Rantanen Hockey Academy is underway, and nearly 180 junior attendees are at the Avalanche star’s camp. This is the fourth year the camp has taken place.

In classic Mikko fashion, he appears to be enjoying himself, with the help of Rangers forward Kaapo Kakko.

The 4th annual Mikko Rantanen Hockey Academy (https://t.co/bUd6Ff2uQ7) is taking place this week in Finland. One of his helpers at the camp is Kaapo Kakko of the Rangers. Nearly 180 Junior attendees this year.

In typical Mikko fashion, he seems to be enjoying himself. pic.twitter.com/9j9iUY6wfE

— Evan Rawal (@evanrawal) July 26, 2023

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by RantanenAcademy (@rantanenacademy)

Around the NHL

The Hurricanes don’t have a ton of money committed to anyone long-term, but on Wednesday, they made a big commitment to their top forward, Sebastian Aho. The Finnish forward will not be hitting free agency next year, as he signed an 8-year, $78 million extension with the Hurricanes. Aho is a great player, but that’s a lot of money for someone who dipped below a point-per-game last year.

I pick Carolina to go to the finals seemingly every year, so maybe this is the year they finally get over that hump.

National Hockey Now

Boston: Patrice Bergeron is ready to be his kid’s uber driver.

San Jose: The Sharks are facing the harsh reality of Erik Karlsson‘s trade value.

Nashville: Are the Predators still after Vladimir Tarasenko?

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