The Daily Faceoff Show: The Athletic’s Peter Baugh picks Mikko Rantanen as Avalanche’s MVP

Things have been going very well for the Colorado Avalanche as of late.

By defeating the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday at Ball Arena, Colorado ran its home winning streak to 18 games, not having dropped a game on home ice since Nov. 3.

This has run the Avalanche’s record to 32-8-3 for the season, with their .779 points percentage tops in the NHL.

Colorado also has the best goal differential in the league at +55, Cale Makar is the odds-on favorite for the Norris Trophy and there can be an argument that at least four different Avalanche players are the team’s MVP.

The Athletic’s Peter Baugh joined Frank Seravalli on Monday’s episode of The Daily Faceoff Show to discuss who he think’s Colorado’s best player has been.

Baugh: “I might zag a little, but I think it’s Mikko Rantanen. He’s been absolutely unbelievable this year. He takes up a lot of defensive responsibility.

“Obviously, Kadri’s had just an unbelievable year, a career year for him. And he’s outscoring Rantanen. But Rantanen has more goals, he’s playing on the top line. They’ve used him at center at points when MacKinnon’s been out. He’s looked just fine there. And I think his facilitating and passing is overlooked, potentially. And he’s just been kind of an anchor of this team.

“Obviously, Rantanen, Kadri, Makar are the kind of the big three this year. But I think I’d maybe give the edge, in my personal, who I think is most deserving of the team MVP award to Rantanen, thus far. Even as good as Kadri has been.”

You can watch the full episode of The Daily Faceoff Show here…