Should The Blue Jackets Consider Taking A Run At Signing Mikko Rantanen?

Scott Laughlin, host of NHL Morning Skate on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio has been talking about the trade of Mikko Rantanen from the Colorado Avalanche to the Carolina Hurricanes a bunch lately, and rightfully so as the trade was huge news.

But yesterday morning Scott said he made a prediction a while ago that I had never heard before. As an avid show listener, I was disappointed that I hadn't heard the original comment.

Laughlin said that he had predicted that Rantanen, a UFA after this season, would either sign with the Anaheim Ducks or the Columbus Blue Jackets. That's right, your Columbus Blue Jackets.

My first thought was "Yeah right." But then I remembered just how much money GM Don Waddell is going to have to spend next season. The Anaheim Ducks are also going to have A LOT of money to spend.

With the cap going up to approx. $97 million, Waddell is going to have the money to put together a championship roster, should he choose to, and adding a player like Mikko Rantanen would be an excellent start.

Rantanen is coming off two consecutive 100-point seasons and is on pace to eclipse 100 points once again. In 50 games this season, he has 64 points. He is up to 681 points in 620 career games. Rantanen would be the dynamic winger that Waddell needs to go along with Adam Fantilli, Sean Monahan, and Kirill Marchenko.

But how much would he cost? It's being reported that Rantanen was willing to give the Avs a "hometown discount," and was willing to take less than Nathan MacKinnon. “I was ready to take a significant discount for my market value," is what he told the Denver Post. I assume the Avs told him that he was not going to make more than MacKinnon, who makes $12.6 million per season. That means he undoubtedly will be asking for upwards of $14-15 million per season for any team not named the Colorado Avalanche. He currently makes $9.25 million per season and probably deserves to be paid anything he asks, if we're being honest. He's that good. He believes he should make what Leon Draisaitl is making, which is $14 million per season.

Would GM Don Waddell be willing to swing for the fences in his first real summer as GM? Last summer was focused on signing his own RFA's and shoring up spots on the roster. This summer will be a bit different though. Yes, he will need to sign Mathieu Olivier and Dmitri Voronkov, as well as a few others. But will he take advantage of all the money he's going to have to spend? That's the real question.

The summer of 2025 will be the start of something special if Waddell is allowed to spend the money he has in stock.

What's Next: The Blue Jackets have a four-day break and will travel to Vegas next Thursday to play the Golden Knights.

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