Aarif Deen
This was a calculated move. But you can’t deny it’s extremely risky.
In a stunning Friday night trade that sent shockwaves through the hockey world, the Avalanche parted ways with Mikko Rantanen, shipping the superstar winger and Stanley Cup champion to the Carolina Hurricanes for Martin Necas, Jack Drury, and two draft picks.
The Blackhawks were also involved in the complex three-team trade. They retained half of Rantanen’s remaining salary this season and sent Taylor Hall to Carolina for a third-round pick.
On the surface, it’s not a deal that makes sense for the Avs. Trading away one of the NHL’s elite talents, who has two straight 100+ point seasons isn’t something a Stanley Cup contender usually does in the middle of a season. But there’s a lot more to this.
Let’s break down all the reasons why this move was made, and what it means for a team still looking to compete for the Stanley Cup.
The relationship between the Avalanche and Mikko Rantanen became complicated over the past 143 days. And it’s specifically been that long because that was the day Leon Draisaitl and the Edmonton Oilers agreed to terms on a whopper of a deal — eight years, $112 million ($14 million) AAV.
Draisaitl’s deal will make him the highest-paid player next season. But it also sparked a change in negotiations for the Avs. Rantanen’s agent, Andy Scott, also represents Draisaitl. And following that extension, it became clear that Rantanen was no longer going to settle for less.
Why would Colorado let him go? Doesn’t it make more sense to sign a top-10 player in the league, even if it’s costly? In theory, yes. But it’s a lot more complicated than that.
The Avs have the reigning Hart Trophy winner, Nathan MacKinnon, locked up long-term for $12.6 million per year. They also need to pay Cale Makar in about 18 months and he’ll likely become the highest-paid player when all is said and done.
Simply put, Rantanen and the Avs’ relationship became complicated because the Finnish winger deserves to make the big bucks. He deserves to be the next superstar to raise the bar for player salaries. He’s earned it. He’s a top-10 player in the world.
The only problem is, he’s the third-best player on the Avalanche. And that’s what made all of this so difficult.
Ever since the Stanley Cup run, the Avalanche have struggled with depth issues. They could always rely on MacKinnon, Rantanen, and Makar to carry the brunt of the offensive load but that never got them anywhere. They’re 9-9 in 18 playoff games since winning the Stanley Cup despite that trio combining for 65 points.
General manager Chris MacFarland experienced firsthand the difficulties of trying to build a roster with three superstars eating up so much of the cap. It’s worth it if the dollars make sense. But having Rantanen eclipse MacKinnon’s number, and then Makar pass both of them, would’ve made the past two disappointing seasons the norm.
I’m also curious to know what the initial discussions looked like before September. Had Draisaitl not signed, there’s still no saying if Rantanen would’ve taken $11 million or $12 million — or whatever the Avs were offering. I heard earlier this week that Colorado’s final offer was $11.5 million.
Ultimately, the Avs had a choice to make. They could play out the remainder of the season with hopes that the player relents and signs for less. Or, they could recoup assets and weaponize the remaining cap space to bolster other parts of the lineup and shake up a roster that hasn’t looked threatening against some of the best teams in the league as of late. And they did both of those with this deal, even if the cap savings are minimal for the remainder of this season.
Good luck to Rantanen in Carolina. I cannot stress enough how much he’ll be missed. On the ice, in the room, everywhere.
What Martin Necas Brings
I have been intrigued by this player for a couple of seasons. It certainly seems like Carolina is selling high on the best production of Necas’ career to date. The 26-year-old is a couple of years younger than Rantanen and is signed for one more year at $6.5 million after this season. He’ll be a UFA in July of 2026 unless the Avalanche re-sign him (which I suspect will be something they do).
Necas has 55 points in 49 games. He’s listed as a center but plays right wing, which easily places him on the top line alongside MacKinnon. He’s also a great skater. And by great skater I mean he’s got the best top speed in the NHL this year and is one of a few players who challenge MacKinnon for bursts of 20-22 MPH. If you thought the Avs were fast before this trade then you’re going to like what you see.
Given his age and the opportunity he’s going to get, there’s a chance here for the Avalanche to hit a home run. Maybe he never becomes what Rantanen was, but he’ll also cost a whole lot less. And unfortunately, with a hard salary cap, that matters.
What Jack Drury Brings
The other piece of the trade, Drury, 24, is a player that could fit in quite well. Also locked up for another season at just $1.75 million, Drury provides depth in the bottom six for a team desperately in need of it. He’ll be a restricted-free agent in 2026.
I spoke to a couple of scouts in the game late Friday night and basically got similar responses from both about the type of player Drury is. To sum things up, he’s a two-way forward with a strong hockey IQ and responsible in his own zone. Drury is also great in board battles, forechecking, and plays on the penalty kill. He’s also got some offensive instincts. Granted, those numbers haven’t popped this year. He has three goals and nine points in 39 games in a limited role with the Hurricanes.
He’s not the flashiest player but has a strong work ethic. He’s basically the kind of depth forward who can be trusted in key situations and bring a steady presence to a lineup. Drury is also somewhat of a faceoff specialist — something Colorado desperately needs. He’s taken 405 draws this season and won 58.3% of them.
Just by adding him, the Avs go from having an unusable fourth line to one that can play in all situations. Especially with Miles Woods’ imminent return.
He’s also the nephew of Chris Drury.
The Avalanche Are Not Done
This is the part you might be interested in most.
The Avalanche are not done.
We’ve heard this from basically every NHL Insider at some point on Friday Night. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman made an appearance on NHL Network and said the Avs are not happy with the Casey Mittelstadt fit right now. Does that mean they’re going to trade him? I can’t say for sure. But it tells me they’re at least going to bring in another center.
To make the money work, someone would have to go back the other way. And maybe it’s Mittelstadt. But looking at the roster as currently constructed, more is needed. You can’t eliminate Rantanen and add Necas just to bolster your fourth line. When you make a move as big as this, it’s because you’re serious about winning and you aren’t done yet.
But who could they be targeting? Friedman said Brock Nelson makes sense. But to me, J.T. Miller is the best fit. And given the term he has remaining on his deal, acquiring him would certainly mean you’re sending Mittelstadt back the other way. Even at $8 million, he’d fit the cap structure this year and beyond. Miller and Necas ($14.5 million) would actually cost a little bit less than Rantanen and Mittelstadt ($15 million). And that’s without taking into account that Rantanen would’ve been due a raise even if he stayed.
We’ll see how it all unfolds. But for now, we all deserve a moment to breathe. Rantanen getting traded was not on my bingo card tonight. Or ever, honestly.
This is a reminder that, in the end, this is all a business. Sometimes that means great memories, other times it means trading away a fan favorite who played a large part in altering this franchise’s path for the past decade.
An incredible 10 years with the organization, but it still feels like it should’ve been longer.