Mikko Rantanen recently shared his thoughts with the media regarding his trade from the Colorado Avalanche. He expressed gratitude for his time with the team and emphasized that he never wanted to leave. Rantanen made it clear that he was open to a long-term stay with Colorado, revealing that he had been in negotiations with the team up until six weeks before the trade deadline. “I needed to meet with the front office in person, which I did, and told them I was flexible and wanted to stay here for a long time,” Rantanen said. However, shortly after this conversation, he was traded to another team.
Once he arrived in Carolina, Rantanen said he wasn’t opposed to the idea of potentially signing with them long-term, stating, “I went there with an open mind to play [in Carolina] long-term, I tried my best.” Now, after 654 games and a 2022 Stanley Cup championship with Colorado, Rantanen will face his former teammate, Nathan MacKinnon, for the first time since the trade. This game may also serve as a preview of a potential first-round playoff matchup between Dallas and Colorado.
Meanwhile, the Florida Panthers are focused on locking up Sam Bennett long-term. According to Elliotte Friedman, the Panthers have resumed negotiations with Bennett in hopes of securing him before he hits the free-agent market. If Bennett becomes available, he’s expected to be one of the most sought-after players come July 1. Florida is eager to avoid that scenario, as they see Bennett as a key part of their future. However, with only about $19 million in cap space for next season, the Panthers will need to make room to sign Bennett, along with other players like Aaron Ekblad and Brad Marchand.
In Toronto, the Maple Leafs are struggling despite adding new pieces at the trade deadline, as Auston Matthews had hoped. The team has lost two consecutive games and is 5-4-1 in their last 10. Matthews addressed the situation after a loss on Saturday, acknowledging that the team has been lacking in the finer details of their game. “It’s on us to figure that out and be better,” Matthews said. He also noted the importance of recognizing that every game from here on out is crucial and will resemble playoff intensity.
Matthews, who has been struggling to score, remains optimistic. His teammate, Mitch Marner, defended him, highlighting Matthews’ strong defensive play, despite not finding the back of the net. “I think a lot of people just look at us and want us to get points every single night, and that’s all they care about, but he’s been playing a great defensive game … They’ll eventually start falling,” Marner said. Matthews did score a goal on Saturday, and the hope is that this marks the beginning of a scoring run.
Lastly, the Chicago Blackhawks face a challenge in extending Connor Bedard, their highly touted rookie.