The Avalanche Clearly Didn’t Consult Nathan MacKinnon Before Trading Rantanen

The Avalanche Clearly Didn’t Consult Nathan MacKinnon Before Trading Rantanen

Imagine being the guy who is responsible for telling Nathan MacKinnon that you just traded Mikko Rantanen. Couldn’t be me. Honestly, the craziest part about what’s transpired is that it’s fairly obvious the Avs didn’t consult MacKinnon at all.

Just check out this response. It’s pretty obvious that MacKinnon never saw this coming.

“Upset about the loss but bigger picture obviously losing Mikko, really great friend.. it’s just sad”

MacKinnon talks about Mikko being traded ⬇️#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/rolgrEjNF8

— AltitudeTV (@AltitudeTV) January 25, 2025

“Just sad, obviously. I wish I could’ve talked to him,” MacKinnon said. “Just bigger picture, I mean losing Mikko, great friend, nine years, 10 years together. Won a cup obviously. It’s just sad.”

“I never thought in a million years he would leave. So yeah, it just sucks,” MacKinnon said.

“A lot of the guys are just shocked. It’s pretty crazy someone like that can get traded right now. He’s a big part of our team, our culture,” MacKinnon said when asked about how the Avalanche’s leadership group has dealt with the immediate repercussions of the move. “He’s been here from the dog days in ’16-17 all the way up to now. He’s helped grow this organization into a Stanley Cup winner and obviously a contender every single season. He’s a big reason why.

“Anyone who really knows me knows I really don’t care about money. It’s the last thing on my mind,” MacKinnon said. “You have to talk to Joe [Sakic] and C-Mac [Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland], I mean, I want guys to get paid, I think he’s earned it, Mikko’s earned a big payday, scored 50, 100 points every season.

The Personification of Positionless Hockey: Cale Makar

I just don’t understand how the Avs did this. They did it MULTIPLE WEEKS before the actual deadline. This nonsense that Rantanen can’t make more than MacKinnon was never really a thing to Mac. Blows my mind but what will matter now is getting Martin Necas to develop into that caliber of superstar. We’ll see if that ever happens.

Subscribe to Vendetta’s Twitch

Check out Vendetta Fantasy Contests

Subscribe to Vendetta’s YouTube

Click here for more NHL content