The Carolina Hurricanes have signed forward Martin Necas to a two-year, $13 million contract, ensuring he stays with the team through the 2025-26 season.
The team announced this agreement on Monday, giving clarity to their roster. The 25-year-old Czech player had been a potential trade candidate since Carolina’s sixth consecutive playoff season.
“Martin is an incredibly skilled player who poses a scoring threat every time he has the puck,” said new general manager Eric Tulsky in a statement. “He will be crucial to our team’s continued success, and we’re thrilled to have secured him with a multi-year deal.”
Necas, a first-round pick by Carolina in 2017, has spent his entire career with the team. He was a restricted free agent heading towards arbitration, and there was a report from Europe where Necas’ father mentioned that his son would prefer a trade.
However, a trade did not happen for Necas.
Last season, Necas scored 24 goals and added 29 assists in 77 games, following a strong 2022-23 season where he had 28 goals and 43 assists, leading the team with 71 points in 82 regular-season games.
He added four goals in 11 postseason games last season before the Hurricanes were eliminated by the Presidents’ Trophy-winning New York Rangers in the second round.
Necas’ nine overtime goals since the 2020-21 season are tied for the most in the NHL during that time.
His future had been a major question for the Hurricanes during an offseason of significant changes. Tulsky stepped in as GM after Don Waddell moved to Columbus, and several key players like Jake Guentzel, Brady Skjei, and Brett Pesce left in free agency.
