Emotional Nathan MacKinnon Comments on Trade of Close Friend Mikko Rantanen

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Tom Banks
January 25, 2025  (6:38 PM)

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Mikko Rantanen is officially gone from Colorado, and now his star teammate Nathan MacKinnon has opened up on the shocking deal.

The Colorado Avalanche made a blockbuster trade on Friday, and while they may have gotten a solid return for a pending free agent, they moved on from a franchise icon who has been with the team since 2015/16.

In that time, he's played in 619 games with the Avalanche, most of them alongside Nathan MacKinnon, who clearly grew close to his All-Star linemate throughout those years.

After the deal, Rantanen stated that he was caught off guard by the move, and now, MacKinnon has expressed the same sentiments, stating in simple terms that it sucks that his teammate will be gone.

Over those years, MacKinnon and Rantenen combined for many 100 point seasons, turning both into two of the biggest stars in the league, but with the team not wanting to pay him upwards of $14 million AAV on his next long-term deal, it was a move that they ultimately needed to make.

With Martin Necas coming the other way in the deal, it's safe to say that MacKinnon won't be lacking for talent around him, especially if Gabriel Landeskog gets back onto the ice this season, but these are the type of relationships that are hard to break.

Ultimately, the NHL is a business, and this is the type of deal that makes everyone involved very aware of that, so while it may be all good in the end for both teams who will both likely compete for a Stanley Cup in 2024/25, it's definitely going to take some time for both players to get past the heartbreak of the trade.

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Previously

Colorado Avalanche Officially Replace Mikko Rantanen in Their Leadership Group

Mikko Rantanen's True Thoughts on Trade to the Carolina Hurricanes Revealed

New York Rangers Make Early Morning Trade With Conference Rival

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JANVIER 25   |   168 ANSWERS Emotional Nathan MacKinnon Comments on Trade of Close Friend Mikko Rantanen Will this move help the Colorado Avalanche in the long-term?
Yes	72	42.9 %
No	96	57.1 %
LIST OF POLLS

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