Should the Hurricanes move on from Necas?
(Photo from James Guillory)
The Carolina Hurricanes once again fell short of their goal of a Stanley Cup after being defeated by the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference second-round, and the team could look quite a bit different next season. The Canes have eight players who could test unrestricted free agency on July 1, and another six restricted free agents — including key forward Martin Necas.
Necas, who has spent his entire career in Carolina’s organization, is coming off another solid campaign in Raleigh. The 25-year-old amassed 24 goals and 53 points in 77 games, a year after a career-high 71 points in 82 games in 2022-23. But as Sportsnet hockey insider Elliotte Friedman reports, it’s looking unlikely that he will get a new contract with the team this summer.
“Necas, I have believed for some time. That one, to me, just probably won’t work out there,” Friedman said on the latest episode of the 32 Thoughts podcast. “I just don’t think they’re gonna do what Necas wants to do.”
Necas will certainly be seeking a raise from the two-year, $6 million pact he signed back in August of 2022, and the significant salary increase could lead to arbitration. Whether that happens with the Hurricanes or elsewhere is up in the air, but Necas most certainly won’t be making $3 million wherever he signs.
Over his seven-year NHL career, the Czech native has amassed 97 goals and 243 points over 362 games, adding another 30 Stanley Cup Playoff points in 59 career contests.
General manager Don Waddell is certainly going to have his hands full this summer, and the looming decision on Necas isn’t even scratching the surface. Decisions will need to be made on nearly half the team’s roster this summer.
Hurricanes have eye-opening 14 free agents in 2024
With approximately $27 million to work with this offseason, it’s obvious the Hurricanes are going to need to prioritize — there’s no chance of keeping all 14 players at fair value.
(Photo from James Guillory)
And it looks like that process has already begun, with Necas reportedly being passed over in favor of Jake Guentzel. The longtime Pittsburgh Penguins forward was excellent with a different Metropolitan Division team, racking up 24 points in 17 regular-season games after being traded from Pennsylvania to North Carolina. He added another nine points in 11 postseason contests.
Friedman believes that the Hurricanes will prioritize trying to reach a long-term agreement with the star forward, who fit like a glove on the top line with Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis down the stretch.
Guentzel is likely going to command around $9 million per year, if not more, and it would be difficult to give Necas another $7-8 million. Since the latter has restrictions and arbitration rights, the team could still qualify him and try to trade him before 2024-25.
It will be interesting to keep an eye on Necas this summer, as he’s the type of player that should be highly coveted if the Canes do decide to trade him, rather than trying to get a deal done. One thing is for sure: there will be a ton of moving pieces in Carolina this summer as the franchise looks to finally break through in 2025.
