Avalanche about to cause major problems for Brad Treliving and the Maple Leafs

The Colorado Avalanche needs to re-sign the superstar Mikko Rantanenand is causing the Toronto Maple Leafs a potential headache by doing the same with Mitch Marner.

TO recent report from TSN Hockey expert Pierre LeBrun shared the information that Mikko Rantanen is seeking a contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $14 million annually.

According to LeBrun, Rantanen believes this is an amount he can easily earn on the open market as a free agent.

Why is this causing major problems for Toronto?

This complicates the Toronto Maple Leafs’ position with pending UFA teammate Mitch Marner.

Rantanen, who is asking for more than the $12.6 million they gave his teammate Nathan MacKinnoncould set the market for wingers in free agency, something that could lead Marner to test the free agent scene rather than settling in Toronto, when Rantanen can earn more than him.

Both Marner and Rantanen have a similar career path. Marner has 203 goals, 465 assists and 668 points in 598 career NHL games. Rantanen has 276 goals, 373 assists and 649 points in 593 games played.

Marner this season has 9 goals and 29 points in 22 games, and Rantanen has 14 goals and 32 points in 23 games.

Rantanen has the advantage of a Stanley Cup win in 2022 with Colorado, meanwhile, Marner has yet to achieve any playoff success since being selected fourth overall.

The Leafs have just $1.5 million in cap space this season. by Puckpediawith both Marner and Juan Tavares free agents at the end of this season.

While they could sign Marner to a contract in the $13-14 million range, as is what Rantanen is seeking, it will come at the cost of Tavares, something he will still have to make up for.

Marner will almost certainly want as much, if not more, than auston matthewswho currently earns $13.25 million a year. Maybe he even wants more than Rantanen to become the highest-paid winger in the NHL.

It’s a contract value that could exceed $14 million if that’s where negotiations lead, unless one of Marner or Rantanen accepts a discount to stay where they currently are.

Both teams are feeling the salary crisis

Like the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Avalanche have a precarious salary cap situation that is important for the team to overcome to ensure long-term sustainability as a Stanley Cup contender.

According to PuckPediathe Avalanche currently has just $1.2 million in available space. Colorado currently has 11 players on long-term contracts through the 2026-27 season, nine of whom are making $4 million or more.

While Toronto benefits from being able to unload a contract like Tavares’s later this year, Colorado will have to navigate a difficult salary situation that does the team no favors at all.

Given that they’ve already spent a huge amount to secure key assets, and with Rantanen’s contract requests, even a rising salary cap does little to mitigate the situation in a way that benefits the Avalanche’s situation without moving players back. . sign Rantanen.

Colorado also needs to figure out its goaltending situation. Starting motor Alexander Georgiev He will become a free agent at the end of this season.

Georgiev has struggled this season with the Avalanche, despite a winning record of 7-5-2 with a woeful .875 SV% and a 3.25 GAA on the year.

His substitute, 24 years old. Justus Annunenhaving an equally difficult year with a 3.23 GAA and .872 SV%, but like Georgiev, a winning record of 6-4-0 this season.

The Avalanche likely won’t sign Georgiev for his current amount, $3.4 million, but will need to sign him for less or find a more expensive replacement, something that would save the team money while still remaining a reliable, low-cost starter.

In addition to Georgiev leaving or taking on less, Colorado will need to opt out of a contract for the cap to work.

They could go from Ross Coltonwho earns 4 million dollars per season, which can be alleviated raising the best prospect Calum Ritchiewho started the season with the Avalanche and seems like a player ready to make the jump to the senior team.

A potential option, as NHL analyst Anson Carter suggested, a 1-for-1 trade of Rantanen for Marner.

While that doesn’t exactly change the situation for either Toronto or Colorado, as they are both similar players, it is a potential option if the deal includes contracts for both players.

Both the Avalanche and Maple Leafs face the difficult task of re-signing their star players, as they have invested so much in their future and what remains is one of their most gargantuan requests of all.

With two star wingers in negotiations to rival each other and their own star teammates, it’s a waiting game that could lead to a fight for bragging rights as the NHL’s highest-paid players, much to the headaches of their respective teams. .

FAQ: Colorado Avalanche’s big decision affects Maple Leafs

Q1: What’s the big decision that will affect both Colorado and Toronto?

A1: Colorado needs to decide whether to sign star Mikko Rantanen to a long-term contract or let him go and the value of his next contract will lead to Mitch Marner is looking to make the same money or more for his next deal.

Q2: What are the salary expectations for both players?

A2: Exact figures are unknown, but Mitch Marner is projected to be offered between $12 and 15 million depending on the team, meanwhile, Rantanen will look to earn more than the $12.6 million his teammate Nathan MacKinnon earns.