The Avalanche signed its first-round draft pick, 18-year-old forward Mikko Rantanen, to a three-year, entry-level contract Monday.
The Finnish winger will make $832,000 in the first season of the deal, which under terms of the collective bargaining agreement will kick in only when he plays more than nine games in a season with Colorado. It’s considered likely that he will return to play for his Finnish Elite League team, TPS Turku, in the upcoming season, but he will come to Colorado’s training camp with a chance to make the NHL roster.
“I will do everything I can to be in the lineup,” Rantanen said at the Avalanche’s development camp last week. “I know it’s the best league in the world, but I will do everything I can.”
Rantanen was drafted No. 10 in the 2015 NHL draft by the Avs, and is a top-rated international player, according to NHL Central Scouting. He had 28 points with nine goals and 19 assists in 56 games for TPS Tirku this past season, and also served as an alternate captain.
“Mikko is a versatile forward who brings size, skill and a high compete level,” Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic said in a news release. “We saw him at our development camp last week and are now eager to see how he does at our training camp in September.”
The 6-foot-4, 211-pound right wing played for home country Finland at the 2015 World Junior Championship in Toronto/Montreal, recording four goals in five games during the tournament. Rantanen also represented Finland at the 2014 Under-18 World Championship.
