"Not only are we a young team and like to think we're fun to watch as well, but we've got Cale Makar, who knows how good he can be," Landeskog said. "Conor Timmins, Byram, Newhook, guys we just drafted, and then we've got (
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. Philipp Grubauer proved to be a really good goalie down the stretch and helped propel us into the playoffs. We've got a great young core."
Rantanen is one of the leaders of that young core, with 87 points (31 goals, 56 assists) in 74 games this season and 84 points (29 goals, 55 assists) last season. He can become a restricted free agent July 1.
Landeskog said he does not think Rantanen gets enough credit for how good a player he is.
"He doesn't but I think he's OK with that," Landeskog said. "I think he's OK with kind of playing under the radar. He's a really calm guy. Sometimes he gets rather loud but he's a real fun guy to be around and has put himself, in my opinion, among the group of top guys in the NHL at what he does. He's big and strong and skilled and can beat guys 1-on-1, but I think he's OK with being an underdog and fly under the radar."
Landeskog said Rantanen deserves whatever contract he ends up signing.
"He's earned everything he's gotten and I'm sure they are going to come to a good conclusion and settle on something really good for both parties," Landeskog said. "Ultimately Mikko is a really down to earth guy and a guy who really cares about his teammates and wants to be a good hockey player. I don't really get involved too much in what other guys are doing with their contracts. I care about my teammates, I want them to be happy and we're all working towards the same goal, of winning the Stanley Cup."
Having missed the playoffs in five of his first six NHL seasons, Landeskog understands what tough times are like. Now with the Avalanche looking as though they are ready to contend, the 26-year-old forward, who has been Avalanche captain since the 2012-13 season, is ready to help lead the team to the next level.
"(My career) been up and down, with the low being the 2016-17 season (when Colorado was last in the NHL with 48 points)," Landeskog said. "But it really makes you appreciate all the good times afterwards. You go through something like that and then the excitement of making the playoffs the next year and then last year we felt like we could have really done some damage. As a journey, we know we know it's going to be hard at times and then sometimes it will come easier. But we'll never be satisfied until we win that last game of the year."
