Carolina Hurricanes: Three keys to beating the Blue Jackets

Martin Necas

Carolina’s forward core has been murderous this season. With the SAT line currently exploding for points from everyone, there’s been a player who came up big last season who’s fallen silent. While the rest of the team seems to have taken big leaps forward, Martin Necas seems to have disappeared.

This is not to pile on the young Czech forward. With the Canes right-winger only having two assists on the season, he’s not exactly struggled to get on the board. His performances have been lackluster, to say the least. It’s not been a major issue, but his performances have not been of the same caliber as they were at the end of last season.

When the Canes forward steps onto the ice right now, there’s not the same fear factor with the opponents that used to be there, like the bubble last year. With Carolina’s top-line right now carrying the load somewhat sufficiently, Necas really needs to get it together in terms of his skating. He doesn’t seem to have the same threat he did, even as a rookie.

I don’t know if it’s just an early season and Necas is like the rest of the team with trying to knock the rust off, but it needs to come quickly because Carolina’s depth cannot sustain without contributions from guys like Martin Necas. It’s not going to hold up in the regular season, let alone when the playoffs roll around so getting it fixed now could solve a lot of headaches down the road.

It’s nothing against Necas, we think the world of him here at Cardiac Cane, but this player has the ability to just destroy worlds and reinvent franchises. His speed, hands, and brain combination are scary. He’s a genuine threat to blast past you with his speed, hit a perfect pass, or label one top corner from the blueline and it becomes difficult to deal with when he is at his best.