Martin Nečas’ availability in a potential trade has been one of the dominant early storylines of the 2024 offseason. The Hurricanes have been considering moving his signing rights as contract negotiations with the pending restricted free agent remain in a stalemate, and while there was a sense they may make one last pass at re-signing him with interim GM Eric Tulsky now at the helm temporarily, that seems unlikelier with each passing day.
To that end, Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli said on the site’s podcast today that a Nečas trade may come over the wire as soon as this week. Previously, we’ve covered reports that the Canucks, Flames and Canadiens have displayed some level of interest in his services. Recently, David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period confirmed that at least 12 teams have Nečas “on their radar” and added the Flyers, Kraken and Predators to the existing list of teams that have dictated their interest to Carolina.
Notably, no single team has been named a frontrunner throughout the reporting process over the last few weeks. It’s also been quiet about what the Hurricanes might be able to get in return for their 2017 12th-overall pick, who has 52 goals and 124 points in 159 games since the 2022-23 season.
Nečas, 25, still has another offseason of RFA status ahead of him, but it’s clear he wants to ink a long-term deal this summer. Contract projection models indicate his value is likely in the $7.5MM area on a max-term deal, a figure the Hurricanes don’t seem willing to oblige with the younger Seth Jarvis surpassing him on the depth chart and also needing a new deal this summer. They have a multitude of UFAs to try to retain this summer as well, including one of the best forwards available in Jake Guentzel, who Pagnotta also reported Monday will likely test the market next month before deciding whether to return to Carolina.
Trotz should definately be in on Necas.
The guy who drafted him needs a right wing and it needs to be for the long term.
By the way… Seattle is in a no income tax state.
Montreal has marty St. Louis as coach players want to play for him and Carolina will get more for him if he can be signed for longer than a year
Everyone should remember, whether it’s Nečas or somebody else with arb rights, the team thinking about trading for him needs 110% assurance he wants to go there. Otherwise, they could end up with Captain Disgruntlement, who would need to be flipped at the deadline, or sooner. Giving up any asset on a guy like that isn’t wise without knowing what’s in his head. And, don’t forget the physical. Ryan Johansen is off to the side, waving at us as a reminder.
Utah is surprisingly quiet but I think they are the dark horse moving fast here…