Free agents Forsberg, Rantanen pick their teams

Helen Mirren

Two of the EURO League’s most electrifying wingers have decided who they will play for in the coming season.

Filip Forsberg, 34, will stay with the Paris Rouge Eiffels this season, signing a deal that will earn him $7.4 million in each of the next two years.

It was widely reported that the Swedish point producer was weighing offers by three teams who had all offered 2-year deals. His agent, Helen Mirren, would not disclose the other teams in the bidding for Forsberg but said the other offers were for more money – about $500,000 more in fact.

Money wasn’t everything to her and Forsberg, she said.

“We talked about how one can age gracefully and peacefully around the senior citizens in the Paris lineup,” Mirren said. “I know what it’s like to be surrounded by people under 60 – they can be so childish and taxing – and I was able to share that with Peter. He’s a smart kid and he’s looking forward to getting gray hair and aching joints with his teammates.”

Forsberg has been a regular starter in the league since Season 5 and his best offensive output was 80 points. He did that with Munich in Season 12 and he repeated that with Paris last season (Season 18). In his 14 seasons, he’s averaged just under 215 shots per season from the left wing.

Mikko Rantanen, 32, a Finn who is a smooth puck handler and known to have great hockey sense, signed with Zurich for three seasons at $6.67 million. Hockey journalist Bob McKenzie reported yesterday that Rantanen was also hotly pursued by another team. His agent, Ella Bright, confirmed that and said she practically begged her client to go with the team that offered the highest salary.

Ella Bright

“I had to bat quite a few eyelashes and produce a lot of seductive glances, but in the end it was worth it. Dennis Sullo seemed to really enjoy the negotiations and it really wasn’t hard for me to get more money out of him,” Bright said.

“Paris was never a consideration,” Bright said. “Although we might revisit that club in about 6 years.”

Rantanen, a right winger, has played for three teams based in the British Isles. He started with Edinburgh in Season 9 and after two seasons there, went to Dublin but was soon traded to London, where he put in 8 years. He has averaged 75 points in the last five seasons and has scored 30 or more goals the last two seasons.

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