Avs Need to Stop Messing Around and Sign Mikko Rantanen Before It's Too Late

Mikko Rantanen scored 87 points last year in just 74 games. The Avalanche came within a victory of the Western Conference Finals, where they haven't been in 17 years. Just cough it up.

Now that Mitch Marner has re-signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs, it is time for the Colorado Avalanche to sign a player in Rantanen who's maybe not quite as good, but also has less media attention, to a long-term deal. The way things are going, it doesn't seem like it will happen soon.

Make sure to look at the time stamp on that, by the way. It's also pretty contradictory to something from less than a week ago.

Marner is going to make nearly $11 million per year, while many project Rantanen to make $10 million annually. There is a lot more pressure on the Maple Leafs to win because of their market and Stanley Cup drought, but the Avalanche actually came closer to hoisting the Cup last year than the Maple Leafs did. Because of that, it makes way more sense for Colorado to shell out and try to win now.

The Blackhawks and Kings dynasties are over, the Predators traded away PK Subban for very little, the Oilers didn't take the next step, and the Sharks still need to get over the hump. It's the perfect time to pounce on the rest of the Western Conference, even if the Blues just won.

Rantanen is only 22 years old and finished behind only Nathan McKinnon in team scoring last season. If the Avalanche sign him now, they can save money, because he is moving at a pace to reach 100 points before age 25. They won't be able to afford him by then.