Some Quick Deductions about the Mikko Rantanen Stalemate

Let's do some thinking together

I haven’t slept much since last night, so let’s jump right into where I’m at with what I’ve heard, read, and thought about the pending Mikko Rantanen trade to Dallas:

• I never, ever seriously thought Dallas would be a candidate for acquiring Mikko Rantanen, so let me just be up front here: I’m stunned at how close this is to happening. Stunned.

• Mikko Rantanen is an elite right-winger in the NHL. That’s the level of player that gets you over the hump.

• Dallas still seems thin on defense, from where I’m sitting. Is there any way the Stars would still be able to get help on defense after paying the Rantanen ransom? One suspects that’s a move Nill is waiting to make until the Rantanen situation is resolved.

• Right now, here’s where we’re at:

  

• According to folks like Kevin Weekes, the Rantanen camp turned down over $13 million per year from Carolina, whereas Dallas hasn’t been willing to go to $13 million per year.

• The trade package to Colorado Carolina is all set, if an extension gets done. That’s where things are stuck, though. We don’t know what’s in that package yet (which is a testament to the discretion of Jim Nill and Eric Tulsky), but I can tell you this: it’s a package that has to allow Carolina to sell the Rantanen saga to the players in the dressing room. Good luck with that, Eric.