Welcome to NHL Rumours! The Colorado Avalanche made a blockbluster trade last season, trading Mikko Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes in a three-trade team. Coming to Colorado was 26-year old forward, Martin Necas. Necas played in 30 games for the Avs, scoring 11 goals. Necas has one more season left on his contract before he becomes an unrestricted free agent. Today’s rumour looks at the possible average annual salary Necas will receive.
NHL Rumours
Necas’s AAV
Rumour: Nick Kypreos from Sportsnet believes Necas could get $10 million or more on his next contract.
Nick Kypreos: The feeling is Martin Necas could get $10 million or more – Sportsnet
— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) July 17, 2025
Analysis: At 26, Necas is entering the prime of his career. The 26-year old has scored 124 goals in his eight-year career. His career-best season was in 2024-25, when he set a career best in goals (27), assists (56), and points (83). Furthermore, Necas has consistently scored 20+ goals each of the last three seasons, indicating his consistency in the NHL.
Necas will make $6.5 million next season. The 2017 draft pick is certainly up for a raise, but how much of a raise?
Paying For Upside?
The question that needs to ask is, is 20+ goals and 50+ assists worth $10 million? That is certainly a high price to pay. However, the team that pays that price for Necas may be thinking long-term. If a team thinks a player will do great things in the league, they will lock them to a high but reasonable contract. The contract may seem high at first, but as the player grows, the deal becomes a steal.
An example of this can be found with the St. Louis Blues. The Blues gave Robert Thomas an extension prior to the 2022-23 season. As the seasons have gone by, Thomas has become an elite forward in the NHL, well worth the contract he got.
For Necas, a team who gives him $10 million may be seeing strong upside following his career-best season.
Overpaying for the Cup
A team that gives Necas $10 million may know that is a little much for him, but may feel it is worth it to contend for the Stanley Cup. Let’s say it is the Avalanche who give Necas $10 million. The Avs gave up Rantanen (who is now on a division rival) for Necas. Furthermore, Rantanen ended Colorado’s season with a hat trick in Game 7 last season. The Avs may realize that the competition in the Western Conference is only growing stronger. As a result, overpaying for Necas may be worth to remain a contender.
The Avs won the Stanley Cup in 2022, but have only exited the first round once since then. The team believes their Stanley Cup window is still open. Re-signing Necas may be part of their solution to remain in contention.
Of course, other teams may be interested in Necas. The Hurricanes, after trading Rantanen and their rough elimination in the Eastern Conference Final, may be interested in bringing back Necas next summer. Like the Avalanche, the Canes may see Necas as a key piece to keep their Cup window open.
Main Photo: Isaiah J. Downing
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