That Fell Through Quickly

Mikko Rantanen is currently in the same boat as a dozen other high-profile, young stars in the NHL as he's a restricted free agent without a contract. It is virtually impossible for any other team to swoop in and sign him to an offer sheet with the cap space that the Colorado Avalanche have, but anything is technically possible. As Rantanen spends his summer without a contract, there are whispers of options that he may have if he and the Avalanche cannot come to some sort of agreement. Do these whispers hold any water? Are there actually options out there for him if he and the Avalanche can't come to some sort of resolution?

News broke yesterday that there was some interest from the KHL's Ak Bars Kazan in signing Rantanen if he was interested in coming to the NHL. Ak Bars Kazan acquired his rights on Thursday from Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk, and the rumour mill started to turn. Sports-Express writer Igor Eronko went to Twitter where he posted the following:

Hearing Ak Bars is ready to offer Mikko Rantanen a 1-year deal for $4M (tax is just 13% here and no escrow) #Avs

— Igor Eronko (@IgorEronko) July 20, 2019

Interesting if not provocative when it comes to Rantanen's situation in the Mile High City. The fact that Eronko dropped the escrow comment and the tax rate comment made this rumour seem far more real than not.

But that sound you're hearing is the sound of brakes screeching because Eronko might have jumped ahead of this story.

Although there is a rumor that Mikko Rantanen could be headed to AkBars of the KHL due to him and Avalanche being ''far away''in their negotiations GM of the KHL club says that they haven't even spoken about a potential move to the KHL.

— Aivis Kalniņš (@A_Kalnins) July 20, 2019

As Alvis Kalnins wrote, there is zero truth to Rantanen jumping to the KHL this season and it seems that Ak Bars Kazan is not even close to making any sort of pitch for him to join the club. While Kazan will hold his rights in case of a work stoppage in the NHL in 2020, I would expect to see Rantanen in the burgandy-and-blue of the Avalanche when the season starts. In fact, I guarantee it.

According to Mike Chambers of The Denver Post, not only will Rantanen be back this season, but will be in Colorado long-term as the team's highest-paid player. I'm pretty certain that the $4 million that Kazan is offering is nice, but there's a better-than-good chance Rantanen will sign for at least $8 million annually with Colorado which certainly trumps the offer from Kazan in every way.

For a guy who is nearly a point-per-game player in his career, there's no way the Avalanche will let him walk away from what is regarded as one of the top lines in the NHL. The only question that needs to be answered is how much will it take to put him back in that spot. Whatever that number is, it will not be matched in any way by any KHL club.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!