Mikko's Choice

Mikko Rantanen was faced with a career crossroads choice in 2015. The Avs have been grateful for that decision ever since

We’d all love to live the life of Mikko Rantanen. At still only 26 years of age, the Colorado Avalanche right winger is a Stanley Cup champion, makes $9.25 million per year (still the highest on the team, until Nathan MacKinnon surpasses that next season), has a sweet pad in Denver and a really sweet pad back home in Finland, complete with a top-of-the-line sauna and hot tub. It’s required duty for young Finnish males to serve time in the army. It’s almost as much of a requirement to have a sauna and hot tub.

Rantanen is in the midst of a career year with the Avalanche. Entering tonight’s game in Edmonton, he has 26 goals in 37 games, along with 22 assists. Last season, a very, very good one, he had 36 goals in 75 games. He has carried the Avalanche through much of an injury-ravaged season. While the team has lost five in a row entering tonight, the overall record of 19-15-2 would almost certainly be much worse without No. 96’s contributions.

It has all come together for the likable man nicknamed “Moose” by his teammates. But in October of 2015, Rantanen was faced with a very tough choice - either of which could have been considered as a career mistake. It was a Faustian bargain of sorts - damned if you do, damned if you don’t.

The choice: The Colorado Avalanche don’t want you on their team right now, so it’s either go to San Antonio of the American Hockey League, or go back home to Finland and play there, make good money there and be close to the family.

Joe Sakic, the Avalanche GM at the time, requested a conference call with Rantanen and his agent, former NHL goalie Mike Liut. Sakic was going to send him to the minors in San Antonio, but he wanted to hear from Rantanen himself - because he knew Rantanen had the option to go back home.

Liut well remembers what happened on that call: