Hockey

Nazem Kadri criticizes the Avalanche in the Mikko Rantanen case
Jonathan Di Gregorio
Nazem Kadri criticizes the Avalanche in the Mikko Rantanen case
Credit: Getty Images

Mikko Rantanen is on fire!

He just had another three-point performance, including a goal, in the Dallas Stars' win over the Winnipeg Jets today.

His goal, which put the game out of reach for the Jets, was particularly spectacular.

It was his 17th point in just six games, including one in which his team was blanked.

What's more, Rantanen's 18 points and nine goals since the start of the playoffs rank him first in the NHL in both categories.

If the Stars go all the way and win the Stanley Cup, the Finn might even win the Conn Smythe.

No worse for a player who many said was working well thanks to Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar!

In fact, Rantanen's recent performances are making the Colorado Avalanche management look worse and worse.

Let's not forget that the forward hurt his former team with eleven points in the last three games of the series, including a hat trick in the seventh and final game.

To the point where some players are starting to criticize the organization.

While MacKinnon is more vocal in his criticism of the organization, as my colleague Raphael Simard told us today, former Avalanche player Nazem Kadri is more direct in his comments.

“Rule number one: You always keep the dawgs … #96”

Clearly an arrow sent to his former employers.

However, in an ideal world, I'm sure Colorado management would have loved to have been able to keep the Finnish forward, but this is the reality of the salary cap.

A reality Kadri is familiar with, having had to leave the Avalanche in 2022 for similar reasons.

On the other hand, when general manager Chris MacFarland traded his star player, what he didn't anticipate was that Rantanen would be traded a second time to a division rival.

Let alone that this decision would come back to haunt them a few months later when this same player would be one of the main culprits in the Avalanche's elimination from the first round of the playoffs.

And with an eight-year, $96 million contract with the Stars, Rantanen could be hurting his former club for years to come.


Overtime

– Lions take series lead.

– An interesting point of view.

– Frost victory.

– What a goal!

– Historic first half for the Pacers.

– Second circuit of the evening!

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