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UPDATE: Colorado Avalanche prospect Sampo Ranta reportedly to join University of Minnesota

Nothing official yet, but it looks like the Avalanche third rounder is moving one state east to the “State of Hockey”

By HardevLad
USHL Fall Classic - Day 1
Sampo Ranta #8 of the Sioux City Musketeers skates with the puck during the game against the Cedar Rapid RoughRiders on Day 1 of the USHL Fall Classic at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex on September 28, 2017 in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania.
Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

2018 third-round pick of the Colorado Avalanche, Sampo Ranta, has found a new home for the 2018-19 season. After having committed to the University of Wisconsin back in 2016, an unknown admissions issue forced the Finnish international to find a new home. You can read our breakdown of the situation from Tuesday here.

Despite the rumors that he would replace Brady Tkachuk in Boston University, Ranta has now joined the University of Minnesota. This story is unconfirmed as of right now, but Mark Divver has been an excellent journalist in this story and his story appears to be true.

Minnesota hasn’t had much success in recent years, their program’s last NCAA championship was in 2003 when they went back to back, and after six straight seasons atop their conference in the regular season, the Gophers missed the playoffs entirely. The team was led by Buffalo Sabres center Casey Mittelstadt, but he has left the program to play in the NHL with the Sabres. With a roster devoid of any notable prospects, Ranta will have a good chance to play meaningful minutes, especially on the power play.

For a full breakdown of Ranta’s play, read our Top 25 Under 25 prospect report on him. Link below.