Latest news with #Necas
Time of India
5 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Martin Necas' uncertain future sparks big questions for Hurricanes and Avalanche
Martin Necas' uncertain future sparks big questions for Hurricanes and Avalanche (Image via Getty) Martin Necas is a talented forward for the Carolina Hurricanes. Recently, his name has come up in trade talks with the Colorado Avalanche. But it seems Necas isn't too happy about the idea. According to recent reports, he is not too interested in joining Colorado. With contract talks coming up, the Hurricanes may have to make a big decision very soon. Martin Necas not fully interested in Colorado move On Monday, June 3, 2025, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman shared on his podcast 32 Thoughts that Martin Necas 'wasn't overly thrilled' with the idea of joining the Colorado Avalanche. Friedman spoke about this while discussing trade rumors involving Necas and Colorado. This talk began after several reports suggested that the Avalanche had shown interest in acquiring the 25-year-old forward from the Carolina Hurricanes. However, Friedman said on his show that Necas might prefer a different location. He said, 'I heard he wasn't overly thrilled about Colorado. He wants to explore all his options before committing anywhere.' The NHL offseason is the time when teams look to reshape their rosters. For Colorado, this could be a setback if Necas is not open to joining them. The Avalanche now need to think carefully before making a trade offer or starting contract talks. You can listen to the original report on 32 Thoughts Podcast: Also Read: Insider reveals Martin Necas rumored to be unhappy with Colorado Avalanche after big trade Uncertainty over Martin Necas extension talks this summer Martin Necas' uncertain future sparks big questions for Hurricanes and Avalanche Martin Necas is a restricted free agent (RFA) this summer. He just finished his season with Carolina in May 2025 after the Hurricanes were eliminated by the New York Rangers in the Stanley Cup Playoffs' second round. Now, contract extension talks are expected to begin soon. If talks between Necas and Carolina don't go well, the team may look to trade him. But with reports saying he's not keen on Colorado, they'll have to consider other teams. According to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun, other NHL teams have also shown interest, and Carolina is likely to keep its options open. In a quote shared by LeBrun on June 4, 2025, one NHL executive said: 'He's a great player, but if the fit isn't right, Carolina has to think big picture. No one wants to force a trade if the player isn't excited about it.' With free agency approaching on July 1, 2025, a final decision will need to be made soon. If the Hurricanes and Necas cannot agree, and Colorado is not a favored destination, a new suitor may emerge for the young forward.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Insider reveals Martin Necas rumored to be unhappy with Colorado Avalanche after big trade
Insider reveals Martin Necas rumored to be unhappy with Colorado Avalanche after big trade (Image Source: Getty Images) There is a growing buzz around Colorado Avalanche forward Martin Necas. The team brought him in with big hopes, but now, just a few months later, questions are being raised about whether he is truly happy in Denver. A recent report by a well-known NHL insider has sparked new concerns. NHL insider suggests Martin Necas may not be fully happy with Avalanche On Tuesday, June 4, 2025, veteran NHL insider Nick Kypreos shared his Trade Board on Sportsnet. In that post, he listed Martin Necas as a player to watch during the upcoming offseason. Kypreos notes a "sense" that Necas would not be completely satisfied with his updated gang in Colorado. Martin Necas was sent to the Avalanche in January 2025 by the Carolina Hurricanes. This activity came after an unanticipated and sudden trade that expelled Colorado star forward Mikko the time, Avs General Manager Chris MacFarland made it clear that Necas was the key return in the deal. Before that trade, Carolina had also been in talks with the Vancouver Canucks about sending Necas there instead. Once the Avalanche learned this, they quickly stepped in and made their move to land the 27-year-old forward. Also Read: Colorado Avalanche GM Is Poised To Make Significant Trades For A Top-Six Forward Or A Defenseman Before Trade Deadline Contract situation adds to uncertainty about Martin Necas future in Denver Since joining Colorado, Martin Necas has performed well on the ice. He scored 11 goals and recorded 17 assists in just 30 regular-season games. In the playoffs, he added one goal and four assists across seven games. He was also given a bigger role right away, skating on lines with superstar Nathan MacKinnon. Still, despite his strong play, questions are now growing about how long Necas wants to stay. Kypreos noted that last summer, while still with Carolina, Necas only signed a two-year deal instead of a long-term contract. This shorter deal puts him on track to become an unrestricted free agent in 2026. Kypreos wrote, 'There was a sense Necas wasn't overly thrilled with his experience in Colorado and that he wanted to explore other options.' He also raised the concern about how much patience the Avalanche will have if contract talks with Necas move slowly in July. At the moment, Martin Necas is earning $6.5 million per season. If he asks for a much higher number next year, it could put pressure on Colorado's salary cap. That is part of what led the Avalanche to trade Rantanen in the first place. As of now, no official word has come from Martin Necas or the team. But with July 1 approaching, the date when contract talks can begin all eyes will be on what comes next.
Reuters
28-03-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Mackenzie Blackwood, Avalanche post shutout of Kings
March 28 - Martin Necas and Logan O'Connor scored 92 seconds apart in a three-goal second period and Mackenzie Blackwood turned away 22 shots as the surging Colorado Avalanche beat the Los Angeles Kings 4-0 in Denver on Thursday night. Necas finished with two goals and an assist and Jonathan Drouin had a goal and an assist as Blackwood notched his fourth shutout of the season and third with Colorado. Cale Makar had two assists for the Avalanche (45-25-3, 93 points), who have won four in a row and are 12-1-1 in their last 14 games. Nathan MacKinnon picked up an assist to extend his home point streak to 23 games. He has an NHL-best 108 points, three ahead of Tampa Bay's Nikita Kucherov. David Rittich made 22 saves for Los Angeles (40-22-9, 89 points), which had its four-game winning streak snapped. Both teams had great opportunities when the game was still scoreless. With 7:50 left in the first period, Jeff Malott intercepted a clearing attempt by Colorado in the right circle and was alone on Blackwood, but the goaltender made the save. Early in the second period, the Avalanche nearly got the first goal when a deflection went to the front of the net, but Rittich stopped Valerie Nichushkin's wrister to keep it scoreless. Colorado then scored two quick goals to break the tie. O'Connor got the first one when Makar stickhandled down the left side, slid a pass into the slot to O'Connor, who tipped a floater over Rittich's left shoulder and in at 5:25. Just 1:32 later, Samuel Girard took a shot from the point that went behind the net. Necas picked it up and jammed it inside the post at 6:57 to give the Avalanche a 2-0 lead. Later in the period, Warren Foegele went off for goaltender interference, giving Colorado its second power play. The Avalanche took advantage when Necas' one-timer from the left circle beat Rittich at 15:29. Mikey Anderson took a tripping minor early in the third period and Drouin buried a pass from MacKinnon at 4:56.
Fox Sports
09-03-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Fast-flying Avs forward Nathan MacKinnon closing in on 1,000-point milestone
Associated Press DENVER (AP) — Let's make this quick: Nathan MacKinnon's fast. Every defenseman and goaltender around the league knows about his elite speed all too well. Knowing that doesn't make containing the hard-charging, fast-flying Colorado Avalanche forward any easier. MacKinnon's swiftness on the ice has led to an accelerated pace through the record books. His next goal or assist will join him with Hall of Famers Joe Sakic and Peter Stastny as the only skaters in franchise history to reach 1,000 points. The reigning NHL MVP also became the first player in the league this season to reach 100 points. 'He continues to impress me,' said Colorado coach Jared Bednar, whose team is 5-0 on a six-game homestand that concludes Monday against Chicago. 'He's grown a lot as a player, as a leader, his consistency, the way he's dangerous every time he touches the ice. 'It's a tough league, and he still finds a way every night to get on the board and make an impact on the offensive side, all while being a good defender and growing his defensive game, too.' MacKinnon's not one to focus on individual milestones. But he will about team success. He likes the makeup of this new-look Avalanche squad, which in recent days has acquired Charlie Coyle, Brock Nelson, Ryan Lindgren, Jimmy Vesey and former teammate Erik Johnson. 'It's great to get some veterans in, honestly,' MacKinnon said Saturday night after a 7-4 win over Toronto in which he had two goals. 'They come in, they're chatting, they're getting to know everybody, they're not shy at all, they've been around and they're great players. ... It's a big change. It's pretty cool how well we played." MacKinnon's proven a quick study, too. When the Avalanche sent Mikko Rantanen to Carolina (Rantanen was later traded to Dallas ) as part of a deal for Martin Necas on Jan. 24, MacKinnon brushed up on the tendencies of his newest linemate. It's led to quick chemistry with Necas, who has five goals and 11 assists over 15 games since joining the Avalanche. 'He's an elite player,' Necas said of MacKinnon. 'So fun to watch him.' Unless, of course, you're the opposition. 'If you don't respect (his speed), he's going to burn right by you,' said San Jose rookie Macklin Celebrini, the top overall pick in 2024. Celebrini studies MacKinnon's game to pick up tips. 'Nate's speed, it's not really something you can kind of replicate, just how powerful he is and how strong he is,' Celebrini said. 'But his habits and his routes and his tendencies you can look at and see if you can try to emulate a little bit or fit some of that into your game.' MacKinnon has 27 goals and 73 assists this season to reach 100 points for a third straight season. The only other Avalanche/Nordiques player to accomplish a streak like that was Stastny, who had six straight 100-point seasons from 1980-81 to 1985-86. The top pick in 2013, the 29-year-old MacKinnon also is on the precipice of becoming the first player in his draft class to reach 1,000 points (362 goals, 637 assists). The next closest is Florida center Aleksander Barkov — the second overall pick — with 771 points. In addition, MacKinnon has notched at least a point in 19 straight home games. It's the second-longest home points streak of the season, trailing only Zach Werenski's 22-game string from Nov. 1 to Feb. 22 for Columbus. 'We kind of see it every night, so we're used to it almost,' teammate Jonathan Drouin said. 'Someone that watches him once or every two weeks is probably like, 'Oh, wow.' For us, we're used to how he plays, and you kind of expect that from him. 'We're going to look back when we're all done playing, look back at those years he had, and that's when you will know how special of player he is.' Sidney Crosby sees the intensity of MacKinnon each offseason when they train together. The Pittsburgh Penguins standout joked about how difficult it was to keep up with MacKinnon's speed when the tandem helped Canada win the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. 'Anytime you see guys up close and how hard they work and how much they put into it, you want to see them get rewarded,' Crosby said of MacKinnon's quest for 1,000 points. 'He's somebody that's continued to want to get better every single year.' MacKinnon's drive has certainly been contagious among teammates. 'You want to make sure you're good, because he's going to be good every night," Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood said. "He brings out the best in everybody, because he expects the best of himself. 'It's a lot better to have him on your side than facing him.' ___ AP NHL:
New York Times
14-02-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Fantasy trends and hidden gems: Martin Necas traded to ideal situation — who's next?
The trade deadline market opened early this season, and player movement should ramp up even more when the NHL season resumes after the 4 Nations Face-off. Let's talk about the fantasy impact of some of the deals that already took place and stretch-run strategies for players who could be on the move in the next few weeks. Advertisement The Hurricanes sent shockwaves through the NHL with the Rantanen trade. On paper, the team brought in exactly what they needed: an elite winger with finishing talent. But six games into Rantanen's tenure, this deal is getting talked about for all the wrong reasons from the Canes' perspective. It doesn't exactly help that Martin Necas is popping off in Colorado. So, should there be concern over Rantanen's start with the Hurricanes after only scoring two points in six games? Honestly, not yet. As familiar as most players are with different systems and strategies, it still doesn't change the fact the Hurricanes and Avalanche play two totally different styles, which requires somewhat of an adjustment period. The same can be said for the transition from playing with a right-handed center in Nathan MacKinnon to lefty Sebastian Aho. There is always the possibility Rantanen doesn't fit in with the Hurricanes in the long run, but six games on the fly isn't the best measuring stick just yet. Plus, anyone trying to move him now would sell at the lowest possible cost. For now, be patient — and don't necessarily panic if the Hurricanes move him away from Aho, either. Seeing him get more looks with a puck-carrying righty wouldn't be a surprise. The fit for Necas, on the other hand, has been seamless. Playing with MacKinnon helps. Necas has the foot speed to keep up with MacKinnon, giving Colorado's new-look top-line two-zone entry machines. Sustainability is a question, especially when his scoring slowed with the Hurricanes after his torrid start. In Colorado, though, there is a bit more oomph behind his scoring. The quality of his teammates has a lot to do with it — he has played 90 percent of his five-on-five minutes and shares the ice with Cale Makar and Devon Toews about 66 percent of the time. That's a massive difference from Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Eric Robinson, Sean Walker, and Shayne Gostisbehere. Necas is legitimately in one of the most favorable positions a player can be with the Avalanche, and his underlying numbers over his first eight games support that. With the Hurricanes this season, his play below the surface was a bit more suspect. Advertisement For some managers, maybe this is an opportunity to sell high — but it better be for an absolute haul. But really, the only reason to move on Necas would be to get some lineup diversity if you already have Makar and MacKinnon. Otherwise, this is a player worth holding onto. Managers don't have to leap to add Hall just yet because the numbers aren't there to warrant a pick-up (and I'll flag that if anything changes over the next few weeks). However, he is someone to keep in mind because there are some positive signs below the surface. He has positively impacted the Hurricanes' two-way game in a small sample and even showed promise on a bad Blackhawks team. His puck-moving ability can elevate a team's offense between his possession entries and passes to set up scoring chances. If Hall moves to Andrei Svechnikov's line, that may be the opening to add him. Miller failed to replicate his 2023-24 success in Vancouver, with his scoring rate dropping by a whole point per 60 before getting moved to New York. He looked re-energized in his first couple of games back with the Rangers, and that could open the door to managers reclaiming some value on him after such a disappointing start to the season. There isn't a wrong answer here. If the opportunity presents itself to sell high, it could be worthwhile. But the Rangers have a favorable schedule down the stretch in March, with two consecutive four-game slates. The bigger question in Miller's case is what impact he will have on the players around him, considering how many players have taken a step back in New York this season. Maybe the most interesting is Mika Zibanejad, considering his struggles. Shifting to Miller's wing seemed to agree with him, as did their time together on the top power play unit. Zibanejad's PP1 role will hold value, but if the Rangers trend away from that and keep him at 3C, that is the sign to kick him and look elsewhere. Just how much of an impact can Chytil have in Vancouver? If he can stay healthy, there is a lot of potential here. He adds a lot of pop to a lineup between his skating and puck-moving play. Chytil helps generate scoring chances, and now he should have more time to do it in a 2C capacity. His five-on-five ice time has already ticked up slightly with the Canucks, along with his power play time. Advertisement Granlund should have more support from the Stars than he did from the Sharks, considering the differences in roster caliber between the two teams. But one key difference could influence his production: usage. Granlund has only played four games with the Stars, so a lot can still change, but his ice time is down from an average of 20:51 in all situations in San Jose to 17:23. One of the most noticeable differences is his power play deployment. Granlund was on the Sharks' top unit and averaged around 3:12 a game, while he has played about two minutes fewer per game so far in Dallas. Five-on-five play may cancel that out — the Sharks have outscored opponents 4-2 with Granlund on the second line with Mason Marchment and Matt Duchene. Their underlying numbers are just a bit more suspect, so this is a situation to track moving forward. If the opportunity is there, it wouldn't be the worst idea to sell high on Granlund. But it isn't the worst idea to let him cook and see how he adjusts to his new team after the break, either. The handful of trades made over the past few weeks is the tip of the iceberg. There is an entire board of players who could still be on the move, and likely some surprising names who haven't generated buzz yet. There will be an entire column to break down the fantasy implications of the deadline (on Monday, March 10). But until then, we can look at how some players' values may swing to help prepare for potential movement. Brock Nelson, the top player on The Athletic's Trade Board, would likely benefit from a change in scenery. Age may be slightly contributing to a depressed scoring rate compared to years past, but the team around him may be the leading cause. Nelson's five-on-five production is down slightly, but he is still a positive for the Islanders' offensive creation. The driving force behind his downtick in scoring is the power play, an area the team has struggled with all year. While he may not be a PP1 staple on a contender, the scoring potential should still be greater elsewhere. The same goes for Brad Marchand, who still has the chops to be an effective top-six player. He needs more support down the middle than he has had in Boston this year. Advertisement Rickard Rakell, on the other hand, is scoring at the second-best rate of his career. Can he maintain that elsewhere? It depends on where he goes and what his role will be. He won't have his primary center, Sidney Crosby, elsewhere. If a team acquires him to play anything besides a top-line role, his fantasy value probably will take a hit. Players like Ryan Donato and Yanni Gourde may not get leaned on as much on a contender, but the strength of those rosters could outweigh that and give them a bit more of a boost. A change of scenery could be exactly what Dylan Cozens needs to get back on track. He has seriously struggled in Buffalo since his breakout year. But unlike some pending unrestricted free agents, there isn't as much of a rush to make a deal happen now — it could always wait until summer when teams have a bit more cap flexibility. Former Sabre, Casey Mittelstadt, is also on the trade board. His situation is tricky because he's already on a contender. If the Avalanche opt to keep him and find more support around him — whether it's another middle-six wing addition or more puck-movers from the backend to help players who don't get to share the ice with Makar as often — it could help him get back on track. Bowen Byram was in the Mittelstadt trade last year. His value has trended up recently in Buffalo, but it will be interesting to see if he gets moved for the second straight season. A move to a team with a bit more offensive firepower or more room on the top power play unit could open up his scoring a bit more. Sticking with defensemen, Seth Jones is an intriguing one. It's easy to dunk on how his game doesn't necessarily match his salary, but he could be a good buy-low candidate. He already contributes to some of the secondary categories managers need their defenders to chip in with. But a move from Chicago could benefit him on the scoresheet. He may not have PP1 opportunities elsewhere, but if he can unlock some of those rover skills that made him successful in Columbus, it should help at five-on-five. Data via Evolving-Hockey, HockeyViz, HockeyStatCards, AllThreeZones, and NaturalStatTrick. This story relies on shot-based metrics; here is a primer on these numbers. (Top photo of Martin Necas: Derek Cain / Getty Images)
