Mikko Rantanen back to Colorado?
Are the Avalanche able to re-acquire Rantanen? The Avalanche technically traded him to the Chicago Blackhawks, who then flipped him to the Hurricanes in a three-team trade. The Blackhawks also retained part of Rantanen's salary in the transactions. Since the Avalanche never traded Rantanen to the Hurricanes directly, and with the Blackhawks being the ones who retained salary after acquiring Rantanen, are the Avalanche clear to trade for Rantanen?
Answer
No, Colorado is not eligible to acquire Rantanen this season since his contract has been retained. A team cannot reacquire a player if the player has been retained, even if the retention was done by a 3rd team, within one year of his last belonging to that team. Now that Rantanen has a contract with retention, Colorado cannot acquire him. They could sign him in the summer, since that wouldn't include retention. They could also trade for him next season as long as his new contract did not have any retention on it.
