With the tenth pick of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, the Colorado Avalanche selected Mikko Rantanen a 6-foot-4 211-pound right wing from Nousiainen, Finland.
Rantanen was rated the No. 1 European prospect by NHL.com.
He is described as strong forward with very good playmaking abilities. He has very good speed and quickness for a big man and plays with authority. He’s difficult to check and protects the puck well.
Immediately following the pick Joe Sakic said on the telecast that he valued Rantanen’s size and how he competes.
Rantanen is the fourth player selected by the Avalanche in the top ten within the past six years. In 2009 the club selected Matt Duchene with the No. 3 overall pick. In 2011 they selected Gabriel Landeskog second overall. And in 2013 they took Nathan MacKinnon as the top pick in that year’s draft.