The Colorado Avalanche has come a long way from that surreal Saturday afternoon in Boston six weeks ago.
Martin Necas and Jack Drury have settled in nicely, both on and off the ice, with the club. The short-term return on the NHL’s biggest in-season trade in two decades has been nothing but positive. The raw emotions of losing a core player and beloved teammate, Mikko Rantanen, have subsided, because life in the NHL goes on.
The day after Rantanen went to the Carolina Hurricanes in the blockbuster deal, the Avalanche locker room was still shell-shocked. Meanwhile, it was a celebration in Raleigh, because the franchise had just traded for someone who immediately became one of the best players in franchise history.
Six weeks later, the vibes — at least externally — have changed. Rantanen has not signed a contract with the Hurricanes. National media has posted near-hourly updates speculating about Carolina potentially trading him again before the deadline, which is 1 p.m. Friday.
“Yeah, obviously I’ve seen it,” Necas said. “I still talk to guys on their team. It’s a tough position for them. They probably should have known that he would (or wouldn’t) sign in Carolina. I don’t know if he’s signing or not. There’s lots of rumors.”
Rantanen is in the final year of his contract and can be an unrestricted free agent July 1. There is some context that probably isn’t helping the situation and fueled what is now the biggest story in the NHL (again).
The Hurricanes made a splashy move before the deadline last season by adding Jake Guentzel, but he did not sign and left for Tampa Bay in free agency. “Carolina can’t do this again” is definitely a view held by some outside the organization, even though the two situations are different.
Carolina was also on a road trip when the trade happened, and then the 4 Nations break was shortly after. Friday will mark six weeks since the trade, but Rantanen has spent fewer than 10 days in Raleigh without a game to play.
That’s hardly enough time to settle into a new city, let alone make a decision that will affect the next eight years of his life. Necas and Drury don’t have to deal with that pressure because they are under contract for next season.
“It’s been good. I love the system here,” Drury said. “I love playing for the coaches, and it’s a great team. I expect even more out of myself, so I know I’ve got to be a little better. It’s been really fun. I feel really blessed and really excited for the future. ”
This week has also been an exaggerated juxtaposition for the two clubs that are linked by the trade. Colorado is in the middle of its longest homestand of the year and riding a three-game winning streak into a game Friday night with the Sharks.
“This homestand has been huge,” Drury said. “Getting comfortable here is a big part of it, and then it’s just nice to play some home games. It feels like you’re back in a routine, living in your own apartment, things like that.”
Carolina has won three of its past four, but there was a five-game losing streak with the 4 Nations break sandwiched in between.
Then there’s the production. Rantanen has two goals and six points in 12 games for the Hurricanes. His underlying numbers have been dominant, but the stats on the back of a hockey card still carry a lot of weight in a situation getting national attention like this.
Necas has four goals and 13 points in 13 games for the Avs, playing mostly in Rantanen’s old spot next to Nathan MacKinnon. Drury has four goals and has been “rock solid” and “as advertised,” according to his coach, Jared Bednar.
It’s still possible that Carolina will keep Rantanen. There’s a future where he helps drive the club during a deep playoff run, and the rampant speculation from the past two weeks becomes a quirky footnote.
There’s little question the Avs feel good, six weeks out, about how life since the trade. It’s been a weird time in Raleigh, even if some of the unease has likely been fueled by outside speculation.
“I don’t have social media, so I’m not checking on it too much,” Drury said. “I’m not totally deaf to it. I know a little bit about what’s going on, but my focus is here.
“I heard from (Hurricanes captain) Jordan Staal last night, just checking in. There’s some good human beings over there. I wish nothing but the best for those guys. But I’m so happy to be here. It couldn’t have worked out better for me.”
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