Czech forward Martin Necas has re-signed with the Carolina Hurricanes. The deal will go for two years and carry a $6.5 million AAV. As an RFA, Carolina had some control over his signing rights.
Carolina Hurricanes Re-Sign Martin Necas
The Carolina Hurricanes re-signed 25-year-old Czech forward Martin Necas to a deal following a season where he put up 24 goals and 29 assists in 77 games played. In the playoffs, Necas put up four goals and five assists in 11 games. His career-best season came in 2022-23 when he put up 28 goals and 43 assists in 82 games.
A 2017 first-round draft pick of the Hurricanes, Necas is a very gifted offensive player with lightning speed. At times he can skate circles around multiple defenders and make his way to the net for a goal. But not to be missed is his shot where he can especially be lethal at the dots on a power play for one timers. Over his career, he has 97 goals and 146 assists in 362 NHL games. His most recent moment in the sun however may have come in the 2024 World Championships. Playing in his home country, Necas quickly caught flight after Carolina was eliminated from the playoffs to meet up with his fellow countrymen for the rest of the tournament. He took the tournament by storm and helped lead the Czechs to a gold medal, beating a very strong Sweden team along the way.
Moving Forward
Originally drafted as a centre, Necas has played his entire NHL career on the wing. Could we see him take some time down the middle now that he has some more NHL experience? It’s hard to say. One reason many seem to think he has not made it to the middle yet is that he is not the strongest defensively and Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour seems to put a lot of weight on that skill set. But on the other side of the coin, typically the centre has more room to float and roam around. Yes, more responsibility, but also more opportunity to control and drive the play. This type of move could see Necas excel, but only time will tell.
Regardless of that, Necas is a very skilled player that would help any team in the NHL. There was some chatter that he may be an odd man out in Carolina all season and into the offseason, but Carolina stuck with him through the season. And, as a player consistently at the top of the team in points, honestly for good reason. But Martin Necas signing this deal should make things a little easier for him for the foreseeable future.
Main Photo Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
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