General manager of the Montreal Canadiens Kent Hughes
With the NHL free agency period opening on July 1, teams are ramping up their efforts to secure top talent. According to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, “half the teams in the NHL” are interested in Carolina Hurricanes forward Martin Necas. LeBrun specifically noted that the Montreal Canadiens have inquired about Necas, citing league sources and quoting the Canadiens’ GM on their summer plans.
The Canadiens hold the fifth pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, a valuable asset they could leverage in trades for players like Necas. GM Kent Hughes emphasized their strategy to improve the team, stating, “We have to look at any way that we can improve this team, whether through trading up in the draft or acquiring a player.”
Necas, set to become a restricted free agent on July 1, scored 24 goals and 29 assists in 77 games last season. His performance in the 2024 World Championship, where he led the Czech Republic to a gold medal with seven points in five games, has further increased his appeal. Evolving-Hockey projects Necas could command a contract worth over $70 million across eight years, and the Canadiens have a projected cap space of $9.1 million to work with.
The Hurricanes face the challenge of extending contracts to other key players, such as Jake Guentzel, which could necessitate moving Necas to create cap space. LeBrun suggests Necas is “likely moving this summer,” echoing earlier reports of Vancouver’s interest in him. Additionally, Necas’ father indicated that Martin wants a larger role, further fueling trade speculation.
Necas’ situation is reminiscent of Jordan Staal’s trade from Pittsburgh to Carolina, driven by a desire for more significant opportunities. While some players like Pierre-Luc Dubois have drawn criticism for frequent trade requests, Necas’ request appears motivated by a genuine desire for a more prominent role. As the Canadiens and other teams vie for his services, Necas’ future remains a hot topic in NHL circles.
