Rantanen for Marner. Now someone please tell me why I'm an idiot and should be banned from this forum.
I feel like Marner would benefit being on a line where he would not be expected to be the main puck carrier. In way he's kind of like an elevated version of Drouin, who has thrived next to Mack.
Rantanen's effort level has been bad for two seasons now. I thought he'd turn it on on the playoffs, but he has not. Yes he gets his points on Mack's line, and he does things that complement him well, but he just seems complacent out there. Compare his motor to Nuke's. Two big boys who can skate and impose themselves with their size, except one prefers to float and doesn't use his size effectively. Rantanen is also subpar in the D-zone, whereas Marner is actually very competent.
Marner could benefit from a change of scenery. He's a greedy bastard, but if he likes in Colorado he may not try to squeeze every dime out of them if he's happy.
Rantanen is a 100 pt player and 40 goal scorer. He is a very good NHL'er. He is going to carry a lot of trade value because of his gaudy numbers. But those numbers don't tell the whole story. Even if not for Marner, the Avs would be wise to listen to offers this offseason rather than losing him for nothing.
*Now watch Rantanen go into full Moose beast mode for the remaining of the playoffs, winning the Conn Smythe and making me look like an ungrateful whiner*
