This is from a Finnish newspaper. I tried finding English sources or even the original video of the interview but no results. So I'll translate what was written here:

– Ehh…Well, MacKinnon began the reply clearly uncomfortable and stammering with his words

– It's hard to say. I can't really give an answer.I think both sides… I don't know… Naturally I'd like for him to be in the team, but he is not. So I don't know what to say.

– I ofcourse miss Mikko. And he did a hatrick against us in game seven. Unbelievavble player and a great friend of mine.

His reply conserning Rantanen's hatrick against Winnipeg in game one:

– Awesome player. He did so much for our team so it doesn't surprise me that he is dominating. His gameplay has been excellent

MacKinnon also told he had been messaging with Rantanen after the series and that he wished him luck for the upcoming games.

https://www.is.fi/mmkiekko/art-2000011222829.html

Nothing really surprising here but it's interesting the way he replied to the question about the trade. Normally you'd say "yeah we got a great player in return and we are working from here on out", but now he is "not sure what to say".

10 comments

  1. I wouldn’t try to read too much from those tea leaves. He misses his friend and one of the best scorers in the league of course. I believe they’re a better team with the depth they got. They just failed to hold 3rd period leads in consecutive games and it came back to bite them. 

  2. i mean, the guy lost a great teammate. rantanen’s been insane in the playoffs so his response seems p normal to me.

  3. i kind of hate when reporters ask players questions about choices ownership/management/the coaching staff made. it’s fair game, but it puts the players in an awkward position and however they answer it’ll be scrutinized. 

  4. Awkward and honest responses are always appreciated instead of the scripted “we lost a great player and it’s sad but we got another great player in return” crap.

    Just like all the intermission questions about what they need to do to get back in the game or shut a specific line/player down. It’s always the same answer from every player on every team and it just seems like a pointless question to even ask.

  5. You see both sides… His team got worse heading into playoffs and as a player that has got to suck.

    Management couldn’t get a deal done, and has since come out and said you can’t be successful spending a large % of cap on few players. They didn’t want to risk losing Miko for nothing so from thier perspective it was simply asset mgmt.

  6. He’s in a bad spot trying to answer that. Best answer perhaps would be: I love Necas & Drury but Miko is a great friend and tremendous player. I am biased perhaps. I don’t have an answer beyond that.

  8. It’s one thing to lose a teammate because he didn’t want to be there. It’s another when miscommunication is to blame. Not only that, but he then moves to a rival and single handily eliminates you from playoff contention.

  9. I traded him in a fantasy league, big mistake. Hope that provides some insight.

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