Hurricanes Ready To Give Up On Martin Nečas?
The Hurricanes were bounced from the playoffs so it’s time for offseason talk. Carolina predictably does what they always do. Cry poor and let really good players go for free (it’s what they did with Dougie Hamilton and Vincent Trocheck. Now are about to do with Brett Pesce too). It’s a horrible strategy but I guess nobody cares because the alternative is watching the Panthers play football. Canes fans may want to start rioting outside the stadium because major changes are coming. Martin Nečas may have played his last game for the team.
Elliotte Friedman on Friday’s edition of “32 Thoughts” mentioned that Carolina will do “what Nečas wants to do.” Internally, they have shifted their focus to retaining Jake Guentzel and getting a new contract done for Seth Jarvis. Nečas is eligible for salary arbitration this summer and very well could have his rights traded this offseason.
For what it’s worth, that would be such an idiotic decision by this franchise. However, they’re really good at doing dumb things so don’t put it past Carolina on this one. Nečas had 24 goals and 53 points in 77 games in 2023-24. The year prior, the 2017 12th-overall pick had 71 points in a fully healthy season.
Evolving Hockey projects that he will warrant a $7.5 AAV on his next deal. Honestly, that seems about right. Nečas is so damn skilled that it feels like only a matter of time before he has his own lightbulb moment. Carolina still have RFA rights so they won’t lose the player for nothing if they do predictably cheap out.
This is going to be a fascinating story to follow. Nečas is a talented young player who could be on the move. He’s going to have plenty of suitors too.
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