# @avsinsider on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DFPStPvxNas
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/26220503-avsinsider-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/ae3a21dacd.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-01-25T06:43:44.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Ian (@AVSinsider) — https://gondola.cc/AVSinsider

## Caption

I want to first start off by saying thank you to Mikko Rantanen for his contributions to the Avalanche and for being a huge part of why Avs faithful is unlike any other. Over the course of 10 seasons, Mikko Rantanen has easily cemented himself as one of the greatest players in franchise history. He scored 681 points in 619 career NHL games with the Avalanche, good for the 7th most points all time as an Av.

This trade came earlier than most expected it too. With Carolina likely backing down with Vancouver in a possible Elias Pettersson trade, they eventually reset the scope and aimed for Rantanen. With contracts coming off the books this offseason, the Hurricanes could hypothetically re-sign Rantanen to a new deal. However, I see Rantanen as no more than another over-kill rental to get Carolina over the hump. If Rantanen wasn’t traded before the deadline, Colorado risked losing him for nothing at the start of free agency. 

If I’m correct, Martin Necas signed an extension in Carolina this past summer to give the organization more time to work on a future trade out of Carolina. Necas’ 298 points in 411 career games are very respectable but don’t truly jump out as game changing. In fact, only this season has Necas seemingly made the jump from a general top 6 forward to a competitive first line winger. Necas, this season, at one point led the league in scoring but has since fallen off only scoring 12 points in his last 20 games. 

Jack Drury, the nephew of former Av Chris Drury, is a solid pickup for forward depth. Drury may not light up the scoreboard, but his defensive metrics are out of this world. It’ll be like having another Logan O’Connor in the bottom 6, a real good addition. 

There is one major aspect of this trade that many, in my opinion, seem to miss. Future cap space. Cale Makar’s contract is up at the end of 2026-27 and oh man is he going to deservedly get paid. Gabe Landeskog’s return also must be considered as he carries a 7M cap hit once activated. The Avs are playing the long game. Necas allows them room to breathe financially and create a better supporting cast for yet another Cup run.

As painful as it is, I give the Avs a B on this deal 🤝

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## Credits

These are the roles credited on Gondola. Credits may be incomplete.
A brand, account owner, or featured person is not necessarily the creator.

| Name | Username | Profile | Role |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ian | @AVSinsider | https://gondola.cc/AVSinsider | Account Director |
| Ian Combest | @icombest | https://gondola.cc/icombest | Account Director |
| Ian | @AVSinsider | https://gondola.cc/AVSinsider | Social Media Coordinator |

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