As Martin Necas, Jack Drury settles in, Mikko Rantan’s future remains Mirky

Colorado Avalanche has reached far from the surreal Saturday afternoon in Boston six weeks ago.

Martin Necas and Jack Drury have joined forces well, both on and off the ice, with the club. The short -term return on the NHL’s biggest trade of the season of two decades has only been positive. The raw feelings of losing a core player and the beloved teammate, Mikko Rantanen, have disappeared because life in the NHL continues.

The day after the Rantan went to the Carolina Orchans in the Blockbuster agreement, Avalanche was still shell-shocked. Meanwhile, it was a party in Raleigh because the franchise had just traded for someone who immediately became one of the best players in the franchise history.

Six weeks later, the Vibbs – at least externally – have changed. The Rantan has not signed a contract with the hurricanes. National media has sent almost hours of updates that speculate on Carolina, which is potentially about him again before the deadline, which is at 1 p.m. 13 Friday.

“Yes, of course I’ve seen it,” Necas said. “I’m still talking to guys on their team. It’s a tough position for them. They should probably have known that he (or would not) log into Carolina. I don’t know if he signs or not. There are lots of rumors. “

Rantan is in the last year of his contract and may be an unlimited free agent 1. There is a certain context that is probably not helping the situation and causing what is now the greatest story in the NHL (again).

The hurricanes made a spray step before the deadline last season by adding Jake Guentzel, but he did not sign and traveled to Tampa Bay in free agency. “Carolina cannot do this again” is definitely a point of view contained outside the organization, although 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 marks six weeks since trade, but the Rantan has spent fewer than 10 days in Raleigh without a game to play.

It’s hardly enough time to settle in a new city, so much less make a decision that will affect the next eight years of his life. Necas and Drury do not need to tackle this pressure because they are under contract for next season.

“It’s been good. I love the system here, ”said Drury. “I love to play for the coaches and it’s a fantastic team. I expect even more out of myself so I know I have to be a little better. It’s been really fun. I feel really blessed and really excited about the future. “

This week has also been an exaggerated compilation for the two clubs associated with the trade. Colorado is in the middle of the longest homeland of the year and runs on a three-match winning row into a game Friday night with the sharks.

“This homeland has been huge,” Drury said. “Getting comfortable here is a big part of it, and then it’s just great to play some home matches. It feels like you’re back in a routine living in your own apartment, similar things. “

Carolina has won three of its last four, but there was a five-match losing row with the 4 nations that were squeezed in between.

Then there is the production. The Rantan has two goals and six points in 12 games for the hurricanes. His underlying number has been dominant, but the statistics on the back of a hockey card still carry a lot of weight in a situation that gets national attention like this.

NECAS has four goals and 13 points in 13 games for AVS, mostly playing in Rantan’s old place next to Nathan Mackinnon. Drury has four goals and has been “Rock Solid” and “As Advertised” according to his coach, Jared Bednar.