Today, wherever one finds themselves in the NHL community, the buzz is all about Mikko Rantanen. What is the reason for that? Numerous trade rumors are circulating from various sources. They are everywhere! Whom can we rely on? Only time will reveal the fate of the Carolina Hurricanes forward. But wasn’t Rantanen recently traded from the Colorado Avalanche back in January?

For those unfamiliar with the circumstances surrounding the 28-year-old, it’s important to note that he is approaching the end of his six-year, $55.5 million contract. Amid the ongoing discussions in the NHL, a former Hurricanes forward has shared his perspective on the trade drama surrounding the Finnish hockey star.

Do you recall Martin Necas? He was involved in a significant three-team trade that included the Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche, and Chicago Blackhawks. In a surprising turn of events, he and Jack Drury, accompanied by a draft pick, were traded to the Avs, while Rantanen made his way to the Canes. Since being selected in the 2017 NHL draft, Necas has been closely associated with the Canes, likely gaining extensive insight into the franchise.

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In response to the trade drama involving Rantanen, Avs beat reporter Aarif Deen noted, “Necas comments on the Rantanen speculation. He said Carolina probably should’ve known that he’d sign before making the deal. Necas is still in touch with former teammates and wishes them the best of luck this year.” What is the true message he aims to communicate?

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According to Necas, the Canes could be facing significant consequences for opting not to secure Rantanen with a long-term contract. It has been several months since he arrived from the blockbuster trade, yet the future of the Finnish hockey star remained shrouded in uncertainty. Moreover, the statement implied that Carolina may have believed Rantanen would remain with the franchise for the long haul, yet the trade rumors linking him to the Dallas Stars indicate otherwise.

Still not clear on Mikko Rantanen

Hockey insider Frank Seravalli recently reported that “The Carolina Hurricanes and Dallas Stars have agreed to a trade in principle that will send superstar forward Mikko Rantanen to Texas on the condition that a contract extension is reached prior to Friday’s trade deadline, sources told Daily Faceoff.” Numerous opportunities lie ahead for the Canes forward, and the clock is still ticking before all uncertainties surrounding his hockey career are resolved.

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Seravalli reported that the contract potentially under discussion between the two teams mentioned earlier was not finalized on the eve of the trade deadline, which occurred on Thursday. As anticipated, Friday morning will unveil all the details regarding Rantanen’s future. What happens until that time? Indeed, all of this remains within the realm of speculation.

Has any player from the Dallas Stars officially confirmed their participation in this trade? According to Seravalli, the organization has not disclosed any information about their players, nor has there been any speculation concerning a Dallas player departing the franchise for the Canes. This trade is poised to be a significant event in the NHL, and the anticipation among fans is palpable as they await its development.

The Boston Bruins want a top-two center. The Carolina Hurricanes would do themselves well to secure a postseason goaltending upgrade over Frederik Andersen (.878 save percentage against the New York Rangers in Round 2).

You might think, then, that trading Linus Ullmark for Martin Necas would make both clubs happy.

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It may not be that simple.

“I would not if I was Carolina,” texted one hockey operations executive, granted anonymity to discuss players not under contract by his employer, regarding a one-for-one swap.

As much as each player would strengthen the other team, the market favors Necas in terms of value. He is a right-shot center. He is 25. The Hurricanes selected him at No. 12 in 2017, ahead of big-money players such as Robert Thomas and Jason Robertson.

Teams like Necas’ upside. He could be a No. 2 center for a contender.

Consider that, according to colleague Pierre LeBrun, the Hurricanes discussed Necas in separate deals for Matthew Tkachuk and Elias Pettersson. Tkachuk and Pettersson are superstars in their career primes.

Ullmark, meanwhile, is 30. He has just one season left under contract at $5 million annually. The 2012 sixth-rounder posted a .915 save percentage in 2023-24, well off his Vezina Trophy-winning .938 benchmark the previous season.

For the Bruins, then, Ullmark would be only the first piece in a Necas deal. Additional assets on Carolina’s wish list would determine whether Don Sweeney pursues the transaction — the general manager acknowledged he will be taking and making calls on Ullmark — or looks elsewhere in his pursuit of offense.

GO DEEPER LeBrun: No truth to Brady Tkachuk trade rumors, but does Martin Necas want out of Carolina?

For whatever reason, Necas appears to be dissatisfied in Carolina. The same cannot be said about Ullmark. The three-year Bruin wants to stay with partner Jeremy Swayman and engage in a “revenge tour” in what would, in all likelihood, be his fourth and final season.

But even if Necas wants out, he does not have much say in the matter. Necas will become a restricted free agent on July 1, still under Carolina’s control. The Hurricanes do not necessarily have to move Necas, even if he has leverage of arbitration.

The eligibility of filing, however, gives Necas a degree of bargaining power. His numbers (24 goals, 29 assists, 17:21 average ice time per game) would hold up well in a hearing. Necas’ 53 points was third highest for the Hurricanes, in lockstep with Teuvo Teravainen’s 25-28-63 line. Teravainen, according to CapFriendly, is concluding a five-year, $27 million contract he signed in 2019. Teravainen’s $5.4 million average annual value would be a comparable starting point for Necas, whose two-year, $6 million contract is expiring.

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In that way, the small-market Hurricanes may want to get ahead of a possible hearing and move Necas for assets. But as much as Ullmark projects to be a steadying presence in net, Carolina still has relative stability under contract for 2024-25. Andersen, 34, has one year left on his deal at $3.4 million annually. The veteran was limited to 14 regular-season games because of deep-vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolisms. Pyotr Kochetkov, 24, is signed through 2027 at a $2 million AAV. Perhaps former Quinnipiac standout Yaniv Perets, who is on his entry-level contract, can develop into an NHL goalie.

There is also the matter of Ullmark’s partial no-trade protection. Whether Carolina is on Ullmark’s list is unknown. Necas can be traded anywhere. The Bruins would not be the only team interested in an offensive-minded center.

All of this is to say that the circumstances for a Necas-Ullmark trade do not align, regardless of how good the fit may be. Necas would project to be a dynamite center between fellow Czechs Pavel Zacha and David Pastrnak. That is precisely the point. Offensive catalysts of Necas’ skill and pedigree have been traded before — but at a high price.

The Colorado Avalanche had to give up Bowen Byram, the No. 4 pick in 2019, to acquire Casey Mittelstadt from the Buffalo Sabres. The San Jose Sharks secured first- and second-round picks from the New Jersey Devils for Timo Meier. The Ottawa Senators traded first- and second-round selections in 2022 and a 2024 third-rounder to the Chicago Blackhawks for Alex DeBrincat.

The Bruins do not have first-, second- or third-round picks in 2024 that they could include in a trade. Mason Lohrei, Matt Poitras and Johnny Beecher have high trade value because of their age and upside, but all three are needed in Boston long-term.

So unless Sweeney can find a workaround, landing Necas for Ullmark straight up looks unlikely. Carolina will want more.

(Photos of Linus Ullmark and Martin Necas: Steph Chambers and Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)

There’s been a lot of talk about Martin Necas lately, and rightly so, because he seems to be available in Carolina and because he’s been linked to the Habs in recent days.

After all, he’d be filling an important position in Montreal…

And Kent Hughes would have the chance to achieve his summer goal of adding a talented player to the club’s roster.

Ultimately, Necas will be a compensated free agent, and the Hurricanes have the option of offering him a new long-term contract.

The problem in Carolina is that there may not be enough money to pay him what he’s worth if the Hurricanes come to an agreement with Jake Guentzel…

Especially since Necas could sign a contract worth $7 million or $7.5 million this summer.

At least, that’s what’s circulating around the league at the moment:

There’s a ton of interest across the NHL in Necas, but the Canes need to have a convo with him & his agent first. Many clubs are curious. Could be interesting storyline this summer. https://t.co/OhjSqps8P9 – David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) May 27, 2024

David Pagnotta explains it well in his tweet. The Hurricanes will try to negotiate with him to keep him in town… But there’s also a lot of interest in the player’s services in the NHL.

Necas’ name has also been linked to the Bruins by Elliotte Friedman.

That being said, the annual amount set aside for his next contract is attractive to the Habs.Why is that?

Because, at that price, Necas would earn less than Nick Suzuki… And Kent Hughes could make sure he respects the salary hierarchy he has established by offering his captain a contract worth $7.875 million (per season).

It’s a good price for a player of Necas’ calibre. We’re talking about a guy who’s already reached the 70-point plateau, and we’re especially talking about a guy who would fit into the rebuilding timeline because he’s still young at 25.

The elements are there for Kent Hughes to make the acquisition of the principal interested party. The GM has the tools to make a move, he has room in his budget to pay for the player… And Necas would solve an attacking “problem”.

It would be a step forward in the rebuild, at least.

Because there aren’t many dynamic players like him:

Players this season to score 4 Overtime goals – David Pastrnak

– Martin Necas One of the most exciting young players in the league. pic.twitter.com/MhsVW2mrv3 – Big Head Hockey (@BigHeadHcky) August 17, 2023

In bursts

– Hmmmmm …

I ask the question: does Brady want – like his brother Matthew two years ago – to leave Canada? https://t.co/SPpGPFxBRo – Maxime Truman (@MaximeTruman) May 27, 2024

– Well done.

93% of games played from Thursday to Sunday and during school breaks, an increasing percentage linked to the reduction of the schedule to 64 games. https://t.co/67hraoPokY – Mikaël Lalancette (@MikLalancette) May 27, 2024

– Good!

After FAA earlier today, it’s Leylah Fernandez’s turn to get his tournament off to a flying start! pic.twitter.com/RZLOksYFU5 – RDS (@RDSca) May 27, 2024

– Canada’s line-up for the two friendly matches before the Copa América is unveiled. The roster is likely to look like this at the tournament:

#CANMNT ROSTER Bordeaux GK Grégoire Swiderski called in for Jesse Marsch’s 1st squad selection vs. France & the Netherlands McGill, Laryea, Zator, Hiebert, Osorio, Bair, Hoilett, Brym Sirios, Waterman, Fraser, JRR Join us on OS YouTube | LIVE Q&A (2PM ET) pic.twitter.com/DHg3iw7hgi – OneSoccer (@onesoccer) May 27, 2024

– Today’s news from CF Montreal.

Last week, we made the case that the Seattle Kraken have seven offseason priorities on the player personnel side that the team will look to address in free agency or through trades (or perhaps offer sheets?). In the days since that post, the Kraken stayed active, filling one of those needs by re-signing defenseman Josh Mahura to a two-year, $907,500 average annual value contract. The team also bolstered its depth by inking restricted free agent forward Ben Meyers to a one-year, $775,000 minimum contract.

What other opportunities in free agency and on the trade market will Seattle be considering? In today’s second part of our offseason feature, we’ll look at some candidates using Evolving Hockey‘s contract prediction model as a stand-in for market value.

Priority No. 1: The splash move

Seattle Kraken general manager Jason Botterill has noted that there is not much depth at the top of the 2025 unrestricted free agent market and implied that the Kraken would be hard at work on the trade front. That said, he conceded it is hard to know early in the offseason what trade conversations will actually materialize. Of course, it’s even more difficult for us to predict on the outside of those front-office conversations. Even so, here’s a list of unrestricted free agents, restricted free agents, and potential trade targets—deduced by logic or reports, usually both—that intrigue us.

We divided the list into four parts: “stars,” “first liners,” “rising young players,” and “veteran producers.”

Darren Brown shared in-depth thoughts on Mitch Marner last week. In short, while he’s not overly physical and more of a playmaker than a scorer, he is an elite talent, the likes of which rarely get to the open market. Seattle should be willing to go to an uncomfortable place contractually to acquire him. Unfortunately, I suspect Seattle may not be appealing to the player. (I devoted more of my thinking to the ways in which Seattle might be able to take advantage of Marner landing elsewhere.) The Jason Robertson case deserves separate treatment, and I’ll return to it at the end of this article.

There have been some rumors circulating that Martin Necas may prefer to land on a new team. I’m not sure I buy it. The system fits for Necas in Colorado, he has a good chance to win, and Colorado has incentive to pay him to “salvage” the Mikko Rantanen deal. That said, Wednesday’s Brock Nelson re-signing arched my eyebrow a bit. Necas is a talented offensive play driver with ties to members of the Seattle front office from mutual time in Carolina.

I went back and forth on including unrestricted free agent Nikolaj Ehlers as a target. I’m a believer in the talent, but he will command a seven-year deal, which means a team will be paying for an age 36 season—and on a price tag that could easily clear $10 million AAV given the scarcity of other top-end options. I’d be wary, but I can’t completely rule it out if his market comes in a bit lower than that. Similar to Marner, he doesn’t solve Seattle’s “issues,” but he carries enough talent to look past that.

The tier of players just below Ehlers, including players like Brock Boeser, John Tavares, or Sam Bennett, is the real danger zone in this market where the cost could get too high to offset the question marks. (Brock Nelson is in this tier and recently signed for $7.5 million AAV.) Absent an unexpected value, I’d steer clear of this area of free agency. Boeser, in particular, feels like a potential “fit,” but one I have real concerns about. Could it work out in the end if Seattle went that direction? Absolutely. But it’s not on my preferred list of options.

Marco Rossi is rumored to be on the market, as he and Minnesota are not seeing eye to eye on his next contract. Supposedly, Rossi wants a contract in the neighborhood of seven years, $7 million annually—which will be a middle-six deal in short order—but Minnesota isn’t convinced he has earned that yet. Rossi is a small-but-sturdy playmaker from the center position, unafraid to go to the middle of the ice, and with good play-driving impacts. I’ve considered if he could be a good line pairing with Chandler Stephenson—each compensating for the other in some ways.

For his part, J.J. Peterka is rumored to be unhappy in Buffalo (along with much of the remainder of the Sabres roster). He brings more of a dynamic speed, playmaking, and finishing package, with some shortcomings physically and on defense. There’s talk he could be an offer sheet target if the Sabres don’t work out a deal soon. His probable contract on an offer sheet sets the framework for the requested compensation parameters in a trade (first- and third-round picks). Even if the price is bid up slightly from there, Seattle has the assets to close that deal and should be involved.

One might have included Gabe Vilardi or Matthew Knies as targets in this category as well, but I didn’t consider them realistically attainable for the purposes of this exercise.

These moves may not qualify as a “splash,” though any of them could be considered a top-line player in Seattle. In particular, I like the idea of prying away Alex Tuch—another reportedly unhappy Sabre. He drives play with his physicality and his ability to get to the middle of the ice. He fits the mold of what Botterill says he is seeking. The downside is Tuch is signed for only one more season before unrestricted free agency, and the team would be looking at an extension starting in the player’s age 30 year.

If Vegas makes a splash in free agency (say, Marner?), it will likely need to subtract a useful piece or two. William Karlsson would be a good player for Seattle to catch on the cheap in that scenario, even though he is entering his post-prime years. Jonathan Marchessault is also a consideration on favorable terms only given his contract and age.

Priority No. 2: Restricted free agents

As we discussed in Part 1, these contracts are in the right neighborhood for Seattle to sign today, though we’d be open to a longer deal for Kakko. The Kraken started in on this to-do list item by signing Meyers earlier this week.

Kaapo Kakko (Photo/Brian Liesse)

Priority No. 3: Backup goalie

Assuming the team separates from Philipp Grubauer this offseason, one way or another, the team needs to add a capable NHL veteran who can pick up approximately 20 to 30 starts. Nikke Kokko had a good season in the AHL, but I don’t like the idea of rushing him into any NHL role at his age and experience level. One more season (or more) in Coachella Valley makes sense.

The best options in Seattle’s projected price range are Jake Allen, 34, and Alex Lyon, 32, and both are predicted to land multi-year deals according to Evolving Hockey. Both check in with approximately .900 save percentages over the last three seasons, though above-average numbers for goals saved above expected. Allen’s predicted two-year term is preferable. David Rittich, 32, is a top option predicted to land a one-year contract.

Priority No. 4: Top-nine winger

Trent Frederic rose on my free agent targets list the more Seattle spoke about prioritizing net-front play. He is the rare winger whose two-way playdriving value mostly comes from his willingness to work inside. Anthony Mantha is a big-framed winger with great playdriving analytics, but he is coming off surgery to repair a torn ACL in November, 2024, and it is unclear if he will be healthy to begin the season. There’s risk there but also the potential for huge value at Evolving Hockey‘s projection.

Andrew Mangiapane is smaller, but works well to the inside and gets many of his shots there. If his market is a bit weaker than anticipated, he could be a good pickup. (Fans may not like the option, though, given his history with the Kraken.) Victor Olofsson doesn’t bring the physical element but could be a value add, depending on Seattle’s other moves, for an underrated potential 20-goal scorer.

Priority No. 5: Third-pair defenseman

After our first post was published, the team addressed this need by signing our top target Josh Mahura. Mahura sat first on our board because his fit in Seattle and with the other players in the dressing room was established this past season. The deal represents strong value for the two-year term, with Evolving Hockey projecting $1.3 million AAV for a deal of that length. That said, even if the team also retains restricted free agent Cale Fleury, there could be room to add yet another depth defenseman with NHL experience.

The blue line in Coachella Valley lacks a veteran presence at the moment, with both Gustav Olofsson and Maxim Lajoie heading toward unrestricted free agency. Without another experienced player at the top of the depth chart, the group skews very young:

Even with Fleury, Coachella Valley projects to have only four of a possible six “veteran” status players. A No. 1 AHL defenseman who provides NHL depth would be a good add. Caleb Jones, a 27-year-old, left-shot blueliner with 248 games of NHL experience, could be an ideal fit on a one-year deal at or just above the league minimum.

Priority No. 6: Fourth-line center

This is the point in the list where needs downshift, and the team can be more patient and prioritize value. John Hayden, Ben Meyers, and Mitchell Stephens represent enviable center depth. In an ideal world, though, the team has a more established fourth-line center. Czech-born Radek Faksa has strong defensive impacts and is elite on the face-off dot. Nico Sturm’s profile skews a bit more toward offense, but he is also good on the dot. The goal is a one-year contract.

Priority No.7: Fourth-line winger

I’d be in favor of retaining Mikey Eyssimont, but this is a position where there is (understandably) significant depth in the free agent class. Seattle is best served waiting out the market and avoiding a bidding war. Ideally, this would be another one-year contract, near league minimum.

Bonus: An opportunistic move?

If the team wanted to layer in a defenseman above Josh Mahura who still has upside, right-shot Nick Perbix is a good target. He has size (6-foot-4), is a younger free agent (27 years old), and is a solid-average skater per NHL Edge. Perbix has learned in a good organization in Tampa Bay, and, most importantly, his on-ice impacts (in an admittedly sheltered role) are quite strong, per HockeyViz and Evolving Hockey. Jalen Chatfield was my preferred “defenseman nobody is talking about” heading into free agency last year, but he ended up re-upping with a smart organization in Carolina before he made it to free agency. I wouldn’t be surprised if the same thing happens with Perbix. If he gets to free agency and other moves don’t work out, he’s a name I have circled as an “opportunistic” add at Evolving Hockey‘s projected price tag.

Isaac Howard is another interesting player currently associated with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The unsigned former first-round pick excelled as a goal scorer at Michigan State last season but seems unlikely to sign with the Lightning after some burned bridges there. Ideally, he may not be ready to step into a full-time NHL role right away, but there’s a strong chance he’s a middle-six scorer within a year. I’m unsure there’s a fit in Seattle, though, because he’d likely want a guaranteed NHL role before signing, if a trade from Tampa Bay materializes.

Similarly, Nicholas Robertson is a player we’ve discussed on Sound Of Hockey before as a player with some talent who might be able to do more with a bigger role outside of Toronto. Again, I’m not sure of the fit with the Kraken unless the acquisition is in conjunction with other moves.

I was a big advocate for signing center Pius Suter two years ago as a hedge against losing Yanni Gourde and/or Alex Wennberg. He ended up sitting on the market for a long time before Vancouver picked him up on a bargain-basement two-year, $1.6 million AAV deal. We know how the center position has worked out for Seattle since then. For his part, Suter is entering free agency again, and, according to reports out of Vancouver, is looking for a deal north of $4 million AAV. This doesn’t make sense for Seattle unless they move one of their top three on the depth chart, but he’s still a good player at that price if other dominoes fall.

Speaking of Chandler Stephenson—who says no if Seattle and Vancouver discussed a one-for-one swap of Stephenson (and his six years, $6.25 million AAV) for Elias Pettersson (7 years, $11.6 million AAV)? I suspect both teams say no, but I admit I’ve thought about it more than once. Pettersson could be the cheapest “star” on the trade market if he regains his form, but his last year on and off the ice, along with Vancouver’s willingness to consider parting with him, are red flags that are tough to shake, particularly given his contract.

The Jason Robertson scenario

Finally, a word on Jason Robertson. His name entered the rumor mill on Monday with Jeff Marek speculating about his availability. Dallas is tight against the 2025-26 salary cap with only eight forwards signed, so it is not beyond belief that the team would consider moving one of its bigger pricetag players like Robertson, as even local coverage has speculated. (Marek has also suggested Dallas would like to sign free-agent, right-shot defenseman Aaron Ekblad, who will come with a significant salary.) On the other hand, 25-year-old point-per-game players rarely shake free, which makes this one a longshot.

Jason Robertson (Photo/Brian Liesse)

That said, if Dallas answers the phone on Robertson, this is the type of conversation Seattle should be prioritizing above any other.

Of course, a trade for Robertson would mean Seattle won a bidding war. The winger has only one year remaining at $7.75 million AAV, but he would still be a restricted free agent after that. Robertson is a regular-season star by any metric you could pick. He has, at times, drawn criticism for underwhelming in the playoffs, but his playoff scoring numbers are actually fine. Robertson is worthy of an uncomfortable “overpay,” and any player or asset should be on the table. (Shane Wright is the only close call on whether or not I would include him in a trade.)

Dallas could use some combination of (1) multiple entry-level-contract forwards with realistic near-term, top-nine potential, (2) a young, right-shot defenseman, and (3) high-end draft capital, since the team has only one first-round pick in the next four drafts. Dallas could also use the cap space that would be afforded by moving out an underperforming blueliner, like Matt Dumba or Ilya Lyubushkin.

Seattle has the draft capital to offer Dallas, with six first-rounders in the the next four drafts. It also has the cap space to absorb an additional bad contract.

On the other hand, the Kraken may not have the defenseman to offer unless a third team were involved (what would it take to get the Devils to part with Simon Nemec?). Ryker Evans, a left-shot, could work as a key piece, though he may be relatively more valuable to Seattle’s depth chart than he would be in Dallas.

In terms of forwards on ELC’s who are ready to contribute, Jani Nyman fits the bill. Parting with Nyman would be painful but may be necessary in a deal like this, particularly if Evans is not in it. Wright fits the description too, of course, but the package gets too costly, in my opinion, if Seattle is including him with other significant pieces. (Could Seattle get Isaac Howard out of his contract dispute in Tampa Bay for Seattle’s 2025 second-round pick and flip him to Dallas as part of a deal?) Eeli Tolvanen could be an additional piece of interest to Dallas, given his value contract for a 20-goal scorer.

* * *

If you’re the Kraken, do you bite the bullet and do a deal that sends one or more first-round draft picks and either Evans and a cheap top-nine forward or multiple cheap top-nine forwards for Jason Robertson? Or do you prefer a measured move for a top-six forward like the options set forth above? If not Robertson or the others, who would you like to the Kraken to go after?

It’s officially summer, folks.

How do we know, you ask? Yes, the Stanley Cup Final series has already kicked off, but that’s not the prime indicator.

Martin Necas rumors have officially started swirling, and the frenzy that has ensued is a certain head-scratcher.

In the above article, Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet talks about potentially beneficial trades across the league leading up to Free Agency. He had this to say about Necas, who still has one year remaining on his $6.5 million contract:

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“The key piece in the first Mikko Rantanen trade this season, Martin Necas largely delivered on what was promised — he was just shy of being a point-per-game player in the regular season and found a home on Colorado’s top line. But before that trade, Necas only signed a short-term deal with Carolina when the two sides couldn’t agree on his long-term value, meaning he has one season left making $6.5 million against the cap, after which he could test the waters as a UFA.

“After the Avalanche moved Rantanen because of how difficult they perceived contract extension talks to be going, how much patience will they have with Necas — not a homegrown player or superstar talent — if negotiations on an extension start slowly this July? There was a sense Necas wasn’t overly thrilled with his experience in Colorado and that he wants to explore other options.”

The quote that garners a lot of attention: “There was a sense Necas wasn’t overly thrilled with his experience in Colorado.”

Where This All Started

Rumors began circulating in the summer of 2024, following the end of his previous bridge deal, that Necas was unhappy with his time in Carolina. Necas’ father spoke out, saying that the forward wanted minutes on the first line and the first power-play unit, opportunities he wasn’t consistently getting under head coach Rod Brind’Amour. The understanding was that Necas was unhappy with his utilization and felt that he wasn’t able to play to his full capabilities. His father even went on to say in an interview with Denik Sport, “Martin wants to be traded.”

Is Martin Necas’ Time in Carolina Coming to a Close?

Is Martin Necas’ Time in Carolina Coming to a Close? When the clock struck 0:00 and the Carolina Hurricanes were eliminated in Game 6 in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs by the New York Rangers, emotions were running high.

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It seems as though those comments held some truth to them, considering the blockbuster trade that sent him and teammate Jack Drury, who had also reportedly requested a trade in previous off-seasons, to the Avalanche in exchange for Mikko Rantanen.

In Carolina, this past season yielded incredible results for Necas – the best of his career. In 49 games played with the club, he still ranks highly among their roster:

Points: 55 (3rd)

Goals: 16 (6th)

Assists: 39 (2nd)

Power-Play Goals: 7 (T-2nd, Seth Jarvis)

Rumors also broke around the same time that alluded to Necas not being happy playing on the wing. When he was drafted, many listed him as a natural center. With Carolina’s log-jam at the center position during his time with the team, HC Rod Brind’Amour didn’t have much wiggle room and, instead, focused on developing him as a winger.

How Did Things in Colorado Shake Out?

He ended the season with 83 points, tallying 11 goals and 17 assists in the remaining 30 games he played with the Avalanche in the regular season, averaging just under a point per game.

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Impressive? Given the change in systems he needed to adapt to, most would say so.

Necas was accustomed to playing a style with Carolina that emphasized a heavy neutral-zone presence and hard-checking game. Brind’Amour demands a certain defensive style from his players that wasn’t much suited for Necas. His absence from Carolina’s penalty kill units further proves that.

With the Hurricanes, he was never on a consistent line for long, never mind on the first line.

What he DID get in Colorado, though, was consistent first-line minutes next to one of the best active players in the NHL and minutes on the first power-play unit, both things he reportedly wanted. In these situations on the ice, especially next to Nathan MacKinnon, he could put his best assets to use: his speed and ability to transition the puck – something Carolina had to adapt to missing after he was traded away.

But, then begs the question: if he got what he was asking for, why wouldn’t he be thrilled?

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First, let’s all remember to take the report with a grain of salt. This is ONE journalist with a single report after a tumultuous season for every party involved in this trade. Everyone was shocked by the blockbuster trade, despite two of the three players involved having reportedly requested to be moved in previous years (i.e., Necas and Drury).

Second, if there is any truth to this, all bets here are on him not getting more of an opportunity to prove himself as a natural center.

He was given one game by head coach Jared Bednar in MacKinnon’s absence (due to a minor injury) on April 10th against the Vancouver Canucks. It didn’t last longer than two periods.

Call it a lack of experience or simply not being built to play the position, but when a guy who wants to play center is out on the ice for three of the four goals allowed, it’s not the greatest way to build an argument to play him there consistently. He was only at center for one of those goals, as he was moved back to the wing in the third period, but that lone goal saw him caught too deep in the other end and then leisurely skating back… Not the best look.

In his defense, that was an off-game for the team as a whole, as Coach Bednar said following the game that the team wasn’t skating enough. Bad decisions were made, breakouts were “terrible,” zone transitions weren’t up to his standards, and he made sure everyone knew that the lineup shuffling due to missing guys was not an excuse for any of it.

The Multi-Million Dollar Question: Will Necas Get Traded?

All that to say… With the Brock Nelson extension securing a player at the 2C position for the next three years, there’s not much of an opportunity for Necas to get another look at center. And now with talks of the Avalanche potentially targeting Stanley Cup-winning center Jonathan Toews, it looks less and less likely for the Czech native.

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The idea is that, with Necas’ contract expiring after the 2025-26 season, the Avalanche may put a deal in front of him somewhere between $7 million and $9 million. After the points he put up in the regular season this past campaign, a number in that range seems generous enough and would be his largest salary sum yet.

Necas has never signed a deal longer than three years, his most recent contracts acting as bridge deals while Necas continued to prove himself. His worth has always been a point of contention in contract talks, even leading the forward to file for arbitration in 2024 before the season. Hearing dates for players were not released, but he signed his two-year, $6.5 million deal on July 29th, 2024.

Rumors have popped up in the last few weeks that the Avalanche may consider trading him to earn some draft capital back, or to deepen their roster even further, but NHL insider Elliotte Friedman alluded to rumors being just that: rumors.

My expectation is that Martin Necas will be in the starting lineup for the Avalanche come October. From there, he has a chance to work further with MacKinnon and best his numbers from this past season to earn himself a heftier contract. If he is traded by the deadline next March, it won’t be from lack of trying on Chris MacFarland and company’s part.

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Stylistically, Necas is a perfect fit for this team, especially next to MacKinnon on the first line. He’s gotten almost everything he’s wanted out of how he’s been utilized on the ice, so that can no longer be an excuse as to why he couldn’t get a deal done with Colorado.

The main factors, in my eyes, will be the salary and whether or not playing center is a dealbreaker for him moving forward.

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