Avalanche Predicted to Trade For Mikko Rantanen Replacement
The Colorado Avalanche pushed the Dallas Stars as much as they could in the first round of the playoffs this year, but they fell just short of advancing. Colorado is only a few years separated from winning the Stanley Cup and the front office is looking to get the team back to competing for another title.
But in order to do this, the front office will need to be very active this summer. Colorado still has great players on the team, but allowing Mikko Rantanen to leave was a big mistake.
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Rantanen proved that against the Avalanche in the playoffs, and now the team will need to find his replacement. NHL writer Adam Gretz of Bleacher Report linked Colorado with the perfect player, Elias Pettersson of the Vancouver Canucks.
"The Canucks seem to have lost confidence in Pettersson despite their public support of him. He might also welcome a fresh start, and Colorado would be a great place to get that given the style of play and the offensive talent that is already place. Beyond that, Colorado has shown time-and-time again that it is not afraid to be aggressive...Pettersson would be a great target to give them another potentially dominant center behind Nathan MacKinnon (something they desperately need)."
Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson (40) pursues Montreal Canadiens forward Cole Caufield (13) in the first period at Rogers Arena. Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Pettersson had a very down 2024-25 season, scoring only 15 goals and 30 assists. Due to this, Vancouver may look to move on, and the Avalanche could be the perfect landing spot for him.
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Vancouver is looking to reload after missing the postseason as well, and landing a solid trade package for the star could be one way to make it happen. The Canucks have plenty of other talented players on the team, and Colorado could look to pounce on this opportunity.
Colorado has a good foundation in place, giving Pettersson an already established team that is ready to win. This could be a win-win for both sides, if they want to be aggressive this summer.
Related: Sharks Predicted to Land $42M Star in Free Agency
Related: Latest Comments From Maple Leafs' Mitch Marner May Hint at Future Plans
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Cowan: Though he is undoubtedly the Leafs' top prospect, even Cowan may not have enough juice to headline a trade alone. The Athletic's prospect expert Scott Wheeler had Cowan ranked as the 45th drafted prospect back in February and told me this week that Cowan likely remains in that same neighbourhood for him (late 30s, high 40s). For context, the Colorado Avalanche had to deal Calum Ritchie, the 21st-ranked prospect on that same top 100, plus picks in the first and third rounds to land Brock Nelson, a rental, at the trade deadline. Cowan might just be a piece, the top piece for sure, among many in the kind of trade we're envisioning. Ben Danford: Now the Leafs' second-ranked prospect after Minten's exit, Danford is a relatively low-upside future NHL defenceman. Given that and how well-stocked the Leafs are at the NHL level with defencemen for the foreseeable future, moving Danford as part of a larger package might be palatable. Advertisement Bobby McMann: A middle-six power forward who just scored 20 goals and makes only $1.35 million cap dollars. What limits his value? He has only a year left on his contract and he'll be 29 later this month. Carlo: It's hard to see the Leafs moving Carlo after spending so much to get him, not to mention the need he fills on the right side. He's signed for two more seasons at just $3.48 million on the cap. Laughton: He fetched a first-round pick at the deadline. He still has another year left on his contract, with a cap number of $1.5 million. He also recently turned 31 and is coming off an uneven playoffs for the Leafs. Oliver Ekman-Larsson: Someone who likely has more value to the Leafs, given his competency and professionalism, than a rival team, given his age (he turns 34 in July) and three years remaining on his contract ($3.5 million cap hit). Second-round picks in 2025 and 2027: The best picks the Leafs have at the moment for the foreseeable future. Calle Järnkrok: This season wasn't a good one because of injuries. But he's still a useful middle-six forward, making only $2.1 million on the cap for one more season. Simon Benoit: The youngest player on the Leafs' defence has two more years left on his contract at $1.35 million on the cap. A helpful depth piece, potentially. David Kämpf: Overpaid for what he brings, but still a centre — in a market where centres are in short supply — signed for two more seasons. Holmberg: His versatility, age and likely low price tag (he's an RFA this summer) give him some value as a depth forward. Robertson: Definitely worth a flier for some rebuilding team with openings up front. But after a number of seasons in which he struggled to establish himself as an everyday NHLer, his value won't be high. So, Cowan? He is the player who figures to launch trade conversations for the kind of centres the Leafs need. Advertisement Before they get to that point, the Leafs need to determine, if they haven't already, who, if anyone, on the free-agent market a) appeals to their needs and b) has interest in coming to Toronto. The list of viable candidates for the 2C gig isn't long and might include only Tavares, a known commodity, Matt Duchene, who is 34 and seeking a long-term deal, and Sam Bennett, a terrific playoff performer turning 29 with a career high of 51 points in the regular season. (Nelson re-signed in Colorado on Wednesday, removing one possibility from the pool.) Outside of Tavares, an overpay is likely required. Which is what makes the trade market more appealing — but also less appealing in that it might take Cowan to bring said player in. Could the Leafs pry Brayden Schenn, as an example, out of St. Louis without including Cowan? Hard to see it. What else would entice the Blues to even consider moving their captain? The Leafs could try to piece together some of those other non-Cowan assets and upgrade the position as best as they can. Or pay for a more modest replacement or two (not any of the top candidates) in free agency. Or, maybe they simply re-sign Tavares and stick one of Max Domi or Holmberg in the 3C role yet again and try to upgrade at a later date (as unappealing as that seems). Do they have an ace up their sleeve, a creative swing that doesn't include Cowan but other pieces that feel more untouchable? The Leafs may simply be stuck choosing between their future or their present or making a big, risky bet in free agency. A tough spot, for sure. — Stats and research courtesy of Hockey Reference and PuckPedia
