Nathan MacKinnon Opens Up on Mikko Rantanen Trade

Life post-Mikko Rantanen began today for the Colorado Avalanche, and it was marked with a 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins, and a lot of gloomy faces in the locker room afterwards.

Hart Trophy winner Nathan MacKinnon seemed especially down when asked about it by the media.

“I never thought in a million years he’d leave. So yea, it just sucks.”

Nathan MacKinnon never saw the Rantanen trade coming and is sad to see a teammate and friend go. pic.twitter.com/Dk1jZEQUte
— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) January 25, 2025

"A lot of the guys are just shocked. It's just pretty crazy a guy like that getting traded...

"Just sad, obviously... Losing Mikko, great friend, 9-10 years together, won a Cup together...

"I don't know exactly what happened... It's just unfortunate, losing a great friend, great teammate. I'm gonna miss him.

"I never thought in a million years he’d leave. So yeah, it just sucks.”

More notably, in referring to the so-called "internal cap" the team held, and the fact that MacKinnon's $12.6 million AAV was supposedly a number the Avs didn't want to go over in negotiations on a potential extension for Rantanen, MacKinnon said that didn't matter to him whatsoever.

"Did that ever come up for you, the fact that Mikko might make more than you?" he was asked by a reporter.

"Oh, I don't care... Anyone who really knows me, knows that I don't care about money. It's the last thing on my mind. I mean, whoever's up (next for a contract), if Cale (Makar)'s up, he might get $20M. Who knows?...

"I want guys to get paid. He's earned it.

"I just know I'm gonna miss him. It's gonna be tough."

The two have been together on the Avalanche for 10 years (including this season), winning a Stanley Cup together in 2022.

Now, while MacKinnon and the Avs will have to figure out how to win one without Rantanen, the Finnish star will try to earn one with his new team, the Carolina Hurricanes.