Despite scoring his first NHL goal just last night, Martin Necas still has some development to do. That’s what the Carolina Hurricanes decided today when they sent Necas and defenseman Haydn Fleury to the AHL while recalling Clark Bishop. The Hurricanes are off to an excellent start this season and Necas was limited to fewer than seven minutes of ice time last night. Fleury meanwhile has only made his way into the lineup once this season, meaning this demotion will actually give him a chance to play for the first time in more than a week. Carolina doesn’t play again until Saturday, meaning it is possible that Necas and Fleury could play in Friday’s Charlotte Checkers game before returning to the NHL.
Necas, 19, also faces the fact that his contract would slide once again if he fails to play in three more NHL games this season. If he’s not going to be a big part of the roster right now, the Hurricanes may be thinking they can protect their asset and keep him on his entry-level contract for another season. Fleury doesn’t have to deal with that factor, but does have a glut of very capable defenders ahead of him on the roster.
Bishop, 22, may have impressed through his first few minor league games this season, but more likely is just a roster placeholder for the time being until Victor Rask can return from injury. The Hurricanes also waived Phillip Di Giuseppe today as they try to tweak their roster, meaning Bishop becomes the 12th healthy forward. It’s unlikely the situation remains that way, and there is reason to believe someone like Janne Kuokkanen could be on his way up to help the club right now. That likely wouldn’t happen until Friday or Saturday though, meaning we’ll have to wait and see what’s next for the Hurricanes.
hopefully they trade a dman so fleury can finally get into the lineup, gonna be a good player
I thought that even if a player plays in the AHL, his contract would still slide