The main reason why the Oilers star Avalanche traded Mikko Rantanen.

In the fast-paced, high-stakes world of the NHL, roster moves are often driven by a combination of factors: team needs, cap space, and, of course, the dynamics of the ever-evolving market. The Edmonton Oilers, known for their explosive offensive play centered around Connor McDavid, have always been a team looking to further solidify their roster to compete for the Stanley Cup. However, this offseason, a shocking trade involving one of the league’s most prolific wingers, Mikko Rantanen of the Colorado Avalanche, caught the attention of fans and analysts alike.

The notion that the Oilers could have made a move for a player of Rantanen’s caliber sent ripples through the hockey world. A versatile power forward with elite scoring ability, Rantanen had long been a cornerstone for the Avalanche. So, what would drive the Avalanche to part ways with one of their key assets, and how did the Oilers become involved in this high-profile trade?

Mikko Rantanen: The Player

Before diving into the reasons behind the trade, it’s important to understand who Mikko Rantanen is and why his departure from Colorado would be such a monumental move.

Rantanen, a Finnish-born winger, has been a major contributor to the Avalanche’s success since being drafted 10th overall in the 2015 NHL Draft. His combination of size (6’4″, 215 pounds), skill, and hockey IQ has made him one of the most feared forwards in the league. Rantanen is known for his ability to score goals, set up plays, and provide a physical presence on the ice. As a complement to fellow stars Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog, Rantanen has consistently posted impressive numbers, making him a vital piece of the Avalanche’s top six.

In the 2020-21 season, Rantanen recorded 30 goals and 36 assists in just 52 games, displaying his offensive prowess. His chemistry with MacKinnon has been a key factor in Colorado’s success over the years, and his ability to dominate on the power play and in even-strength situations made him one of the league’s top forwards. Yet, despite his elite status and importance to the Avalanche, Colorado made the bold decision to move on from Rantanen.

The Trade: A Surprising Move

When the news broke that Mikko Rantanen had been traded to the Edmonton Oilers, it sent shockwaves through the hockey community. The Avalanche, a team that had been considered a Stanley Cup contender with Rantanen in the fold, had made the decision to part with the player in exchange for a package of assets, including draft picks and young talent. The Oilers, who have been looking to complement their superstar duo of McDavid and Leon Draisaitl with additional scoring depth, were now adding a player of Rantanen’s caliber to their already potent offensive arsenal.

This was no ordinary trade. On the surface, the move looked like a clear win for the Oilers, who were adding one of the NHL’s best wingers to their top six. However, the reasons behind the trade are multi-layered and involve more than just an opportunistic addition for the Oilers.

1. Salary Cap Constraints in Colorado

One of the main reasons why the Avalanche chose to trade Mikko Rantanen was financial. While Rantanen’s value on the ice is undeniable, his contract situation posed a significant challenge for the Avalanche’s ability to manage their salary cap moving forward. Rantanen was signed to a six-year, $55.5 million contract that carried an annual average value (AAV) of $9.25 million. While this is a fair deal for a player of his caliber, it also made him one of the highest-paid players on the roster, putting significant pressure on Colorado’s cap situation.

The Avalanche had a number of high-paid players, including MacKinnon, Landeskog, and defenseman Cale Makar, all of whom required substantial contracts to retain. As the NHL salary cap ceiling has remained relatively flat in recent years, teams with multiple high-value players have had to find creative ways to balance their rosters. For Colorado, keeping Rantanen alongside the other key pieces while also maintaining room for future contracts became a challenge.

In order to ensure the long-term financial flexibility of the team, trading Rantanen became a necessary move. The Avalanche could use the assets gained from trading Rantanen to bolster their roster in other areas or to address future needs, all while freeing up valuable cap space. For a team with championship aspirations, the cap space created by trading Rantanen could allow Colorado to sign or acquire players who better fit the team’s evolving needs. While this decision may have been tough, it was ultimately one born out of financial pragmatism.

2. Strategic Rebuilding of Colorado’s Core

Another factor that led to Rantanen’s departure was the Avalanche’s shift toward retooling their roster around their core players. Over the past few seasons, Colorado has built a Stanley Cup-caliber team centered around MacKinnon, Makar, and Landeskog. The team had significant success during the regular season and in the playoffs, but ultimately, they fell short of the ultimate prize—an elusive Stanley Cup championship.

In this context, the decision to trade Rantanen can be seen as a strategic one aimed at refocusing the team’s roster for the long haul. While Rantanen was undoubtedly an elite player, his fit within the team’s core was starting to be questioned. The Avalanche needed to make room for younger players who could complement the existing talent in a more effective way. This might have involved adding depth players, or perhaps pursuing a different kind of winger or forward who could contribute in a more complementary role to MacKinnon and Landeskog.

By trading Rantanen, Colorado was able to reshape its roster without giving up any of its core pieces. This kind of strategic retooling is crucial for teams that have championship ambitions but need to tweak their roster to better address certain areas of need. In this case, the Avalanche likely felt that Rantanen’s skill set, while impressive, no longer fit perfectly into the team’s broader goals, and a change was necessary.

3. The Oilers’ Growing Need for More Scoring Depth

On the other side of the trade, the Edmonton Oilers were in need of exactly the kind of player Rantanen represents: a highly skilled winger who could help take the load off of McDavid and Draisaitl. While McDavid and Draisaitl are among the top two offensive players in the league, there has been a consistent concern about the lack of depth behind them. The Oilers have struggled in previous seasons to find consistent secondary scoring, and teams often focused on shutting down McDavid and Draisaitl, knowing that the Oilers’ success relied heavily on those two.

Rantanen’s arrival in Edmonton immediately changes that dynamic. As an elite scorer and playmaker, Rantanen is the perfect complement to McDavid or Draisaitl, providing another offensive weapon for the Oilers to utilize. Whether playing on the top line alongside McDavid or adding depth to the second line, Rantanen would immediately bolster the team’s overall scoring ability. His size, skill, and physicality also make him a versatile asset who can contribute in a variety of situations, from five-on-five play to special teams.

For the Oilers, acquiring a player like Rantanen was an opportunity they could not pass up. With the team in “win-now” mode, it made sense for Edmonton to go all-in on adding more talent around McDavid and Draisaitl in an effort to compete for the Stanley Cup. Rantanen’s elite abilities on the wing, combined with his leadership and experience, made him an ideal acquisition for a team in need of more firepower.

4. The Changing Landscape of the NHL Trade Market

The trade that sent Rantanen to the Oilers is also a reflection of a changing NHL landscape. As teams look to build around their core players, the market for top-tier talent has become more competitive. General managers are constantly balancing short-term needs with long-term goals, and in some cases, moving on from star players becomes necessary to improve other areas of the roster.

In Rantanen’s case, the combination of financial pressures, team retooling, and the Oilers’ strong interest in upgrading their roster led to a deal that made sense for both parties. The Avalanche got a solid return in the form of draft picks and young players, while the Oilers added an instant top-six forward who could make a significant impact on their playoff chances.