Mikko Rantanen is the type of player who could completely transform the face of an organization.
It’s a fact. And if Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton are as strategic as we think they are, they must have this name at the top of their list.
Rantanen is not only an elite player, he is an offensive pillar, a point-producing machine who, year after year, establishes himself among the best in the National League.
With his current contract expiring in the summer of 2025, the Montreal Canadiens, with the salary space he is about to free up, could well be in an ideal position to strike a big blow.
When we know that David Savard, Joel Armia, Christian Dvorak, Jake Evans and even Michael Pezzetta will all be free as air by then, it is a considerable sum which will be added to the 10 million already available.
We are talking here about more than 13 million in additional flexibility for a total of around 23 million. With such a cushion, the acquisition of a player of Rantanen’s caliber becomes more than a dream: it becomes a plan.
Rantanen is currently paid 9.25 million per season. But let’s be clear, he’s worth a lot more than that. At just 29 years old, when he becomes a free agent, Rantanen will be at the peak of his career.
With the seasons he accumulates, he could easily demand between 13.5 and 14 million per year on a long-term contract.
And to attract a player of this caliber, you will have to be bold. Montreal will have to offer a contract that even exceeds what Nathan MacKinnon receives in Colorado, or 12.6 million per season.
Colorado, for its part, faces financial challenges. With massive contracts like MacKinnon, Makar and Landeskog, and supporting players like Girard and Nichushkin, the Avalanche juggle their payroll year after year.
And while the salary cap increase might give them some relief, it’s a safe bet they won’t be able to satisfy all of Rantanen’s demands. This is where Montreal comes into play.
Rantanen is more than just a prolific winger. He is the perfect prototype of a power forward, capable of dominating physically and technically.
His ability to control the game and score in key moments is exactly what the Canadian is missing to take the next step in his rebuild.
With Rantanen in the lineup, surrounded by young stars like Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Lane Hutson, and Patrik Laine, Montreal could finally compete with the powerhouses of the NHL.
And let’s not forget the human aspect. Rantanen and Laine, both Finns, share a common past and a friendly relationship.
Imagine a team where these two play side by side, supported by a young and promising base.
This natural chemistry could be a strong argument to convince Rantanen that Montreal is the ideal place to continue his career.
Rantanen has often been in the shadows in Denver, behind superstars like MacKinnon and Makar.
If he chooses to test the free agent market, it’s probably because he finally wants to be “the guy”, the face of a franchise.
And Montreal can offer him this opportunity. Here, he wouldn’t just be another player, he would immediately become the cornerstone of a team on the rise.
Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton know this.
This type of player doesn’t become available often. And if they are serious about bringing the Stanley Cup back to Montreal, they must be willing to do anything to attract a talent like Rantanen.
That includes offering him a contract that puts him among the highest paid in the League, and selling him a clear vision for the future: a young, fast and talented team, ready to dominate.
But we must not wait for the opportunity to come to us. It’s up to Montreal to find Rantanen, to show him that he is wanted and that his talent could make all the difference.
This is what Jeff Gorton did at the time with Artemi Panarin in New York, and we all know the result. Panarin transformed the Rangers, propelling them from a rebuilding team to a competitive team in record time.
Rantanen can be this Panarin 2.0 for the Canadian. And with a contract worth 94.5 million over 7 years, Montreal could not only attract a world-class player, but also send a clear message to the League: the Canadian is back, ready to conquer.
For supporters eagerly waiting for this rebuild to bear fruit, this is the kind of move that could be a game-changer.
And for Rantanen, it’s the opportunity to assert himself as the elite player he is, while writing a new chapter in a city where hockey is much more than a sport: it’s a religion .
Amen
