The 18 year-old Rantanen was the tenth pick in the draft and the only Finn ever to be singled out in the first round of any NHL draft.
He is also the first Finn to have been drafted by Colorado in five years. Back in 2010 Colorado selected goalie Sami Aittokallio in the fourth round draft.
The team has a taste for Finnish players, having already fielded the likes of Teemu Selanne, Jari Kurri and Ville Nieminen.
Rantanen debuted for TPS Turku in the 2012 – 2013 season and was the team’s alternate captain during the national league last season.
Nearly two metres tall and weighing in at 95 kilograms, the powerful yet versatile youngster was responsible for half of Finland’s eight goals in five matches during this year’s World Junior Championship in Canada, and was also ranked top of the pecking order among draft-eligible Europeans.
He however emerged fourth among the Europeans selected in the first-round draft this weekend.
Rantanen said afterwards that he was a Colorado fan.
"I’m very proud to be a part of this organisation. I will try to be worthy of this draft pick and will do my best to help the Colorado Avalanche," Rantanen told the press.