Martin Necas is staying with the Carolina Hurricanes.
The 25-year-old forward, who was a restricted free agent, signed a two-year, $13M contract with the team on Monday. This deal avoids arbitration and delays discussions about a longer-term extension. “Martin is an immensely skilled player who provides a scoring threat whenever the puck is on his stick,” said GM Eric Tulsky. “He will play a key role in our continued success.”
Necas had finished a two-year, $6M contract and initially wanted to leave Carolina due to dissatisfaction with his offensive role. However, he decided to stay after the team didn’t trade him early in the offseason.
Contract Details and Team Dynamics
The Hurricanes set a high price for any potential trade involving Necas, demanding more than first-, second-, and third-round picks. GM Eric Tulsky even mentioned he would match any offer sheet from other teams. Last season wasn’t as stellar for Necas compared to his breakout year in 2022 when he scored 28 goals and 71 points .
Despite notching 24 goals and 53 points last season, Necas saw less ice time, dropping from an average of 18:25 to 17:21 per game. He often played on the third line after the Hurricanes acquired Jake Guentzel and Evgeny Kuznetsov near the trade deadline.
Fans might feel this move shows strong faith in Necas’ future performance.
With Guentzel now playing for Tampa Bay and Kuznetsov likely heading to Russia’s KHL, there’s an opportunity for Necas to reclaim his spot in Carolina’s top six forwards.
What do you think about this new deal?
