Martin Necas Opens Up About Staying With Hurricanes (+ 2 Teams That Were Serious Suitors)

Martin Necas was arguably the top trade candidate in the NHL heading into the offseason. But the Draft came and went, then Free Agency came and went, and then there was Necas in August, re-signing with the Carolina Hurricanes for two more years ($6.5 million AAV).

How did this happen? Necas has opened up about it for the first time, telling hockey insider Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet that it was "50-50" for him to stay or go.

I wasn’t sure... Lots of talking between us and Carolina. It was 50/50. I didn’t have the best season, wasn’t happy. But we turned the page, we figured out a way to stay for two more years…I feel like Carolina is my home. I was drafted there, I played there for five seasons, at the end of the day I'm happy that I'm back and can prove to people there that I’m better than I was last season. I’m excited, I’m pumped.

Necas also admitted that "there were lots" of teams that were involved in trying to woo him in a trade, while singling out the Winnipeg Jets and Columbus Blue Jackets as being "serious."

In the end, the 25-year-old said his Carolina teammates were key to getting him to return. "I love the guys in Carolina. Great chemistry off the ice," he told Friedman.

Necas was upset about the way his 2023-24 season unfolded, as his time on ice actually decreased by a full minute from his breakout '22-'23 season, and his production dipped by four goals and 18 points. He had asked to be traded. But he says he's had discussions with head coach Rod Brind'Amour about it all this summer, and they are ready to make it work together.

“I think we will and we have to," said Necas.