Avalanche, Rantanen agree to 6-year deal with reported $9.25M AAV

The Colorado Avalanche and restricted free agent Mikko Rantanen agreed to a six-year contract, the team announced Saturday.

Financials of the deal weren't officially disclosed, but TSN's Bob McKenzie reports it will carry an average annual value of $9.25 million.

The reported terms would make him Colorado's highest-paid player, easily surpassing linemate Nathan MacKinnon's incredibly team-friendly cap hit of $6.3 million.

Colorado was adamant in its desire to lock up Rantanen to a long-term deal, and the club was reportedly unwilling to give him Mitch Marner money. The Maple Leafs' dynamic winger signed for a cap hit of $10.98 million earlier in September and was widely considered a close comparable to Rantanen.

With Rantanen signed, the Avalanche have their entire roster under contract and a projected $6.365 million in remaining cap space, according to Cap Friendly.

The 22-year-old Rantanen skated with Norway's Storhamar Dragons as he and the Avs worked to find common ground over the summer.

He's emerged as a bona fide superstar since Colorado drafted him 10th overall in 2015 and is coming off a career year in which he posted 31 goals and 56 assists in 74 contests.