Carolina Hurricanes and RFA, Martin Necas Agree on a 2-Year Contract Worth $13 Million

One way or the other, the saga of Martin Necas and the Carolina Hurricanes was going to be resolved this week...for now. Today, the news came out that the Canes and Necas have avoided arbitration and have agreed on a two-year deal worth $13 million.

To say this is a "bridge" deal would be an understatement. At 25 years old, Necas was looking for a long-term deal and rumors were that he desired that deal to be somewhere other than Carolina. In what was the hot name on the trade market all summer, Necas, and his agent may have read the tea leaves and seen that an arbitration hearing was not going to provide him with much help.

A better situation for both the player and the club was to reach a short-term deal to see what this season brings or give a potential trade partner the definitive answer on what they will receive at the very least for the next two seasons.

Necas was drafted 12th overall by the Canes in the 2017 NHL draft. The Czech Republic forward has shown flashes of stardom in parts of seven seasons but has never been able to play a complete game under Rod Brind'Amour's system.

Last year, Necas had 24 goals and 53 points but never took the step the organization expected and was not responsible on the defensive side of the play. In the 2022-23 season, Necas broke out with 28 goals and 71 points, leading the front office to believe they had a star on their hands.

With the limited salary cap space in Raleigh and Seth Jarvis needing a new contract, new GM Eric Tulsky could not afford to give Necas a long-term contract for $8 million plus a season. This was the best outcome for Tulsky entering this season as long as Necas is coming to camp with a good attitude.

Still, I would not rule out a trade before training camp begins but it is more likely to happen by the NHL trade deadline.