Before NHL free agency began, many believed it was almost certain that Martin Necas would not be a Carolina Hurricane by the time training camp started in mid-September. However, according to Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky, the situation has shifted.
“A new contract will get done eventually,” Tulsky said, via Tom Gulitti of NHL.com. “He wants to be here forever. We want him here forever. We just have to agree on the right number. It could be a short-term deal followed by a longer-term one, or we might finalize a long-term deal now. There are many ways to get it done, but no one is worried about him being here for the long haul. It’s just about finding the right contract.”
If Necas indeed feels this way, it marks a significant shift from mid-May, when Carolina’s season ended with a playoff loss to the New York Rangers. At that time, multiple reports indicated that Necas was unhappy with his role on the team and wanted to move to a team where he could be more of an offensive star.
Do you want your favourite team to acquire Martin Necas? #LetsGoCanes pic.twitter.com/qoQurziNqH
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) June 3, 2024
However, no progress was made on the trade front. Tulsky told The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun before the draft that he would match any offer sheet for Necas and that the asking price in any trade for the 25-year-old forward was higher than the first-, second-, and third-round picks they would receive if Necas signed an offer sheet of $9M per year with another team.
Now, it appears Necas will get his wish for a bigger role, but it will be with Carolina rather than elsewhere.
“We have put everything on the table from one year to eight years,” Tulsky added. “So, it’s a matter of finding something that makes sense for both sides.”
