Martin Necas hasn’t completed a full season with the Colorado Avalanche yet, but questions are already swirling about his long-term future with the team.
Acquired as the centerpiece of the Mikko Rantanen trade, Necas is entering the final year of the two-year, \$13 million deal he signed with Carolina in 2024. While he’s been eligible to negotiate an extension with Colorado since July 1, talks haven’t progressed, and Necas seems prepared to let his contract year play out before making a decision.
Given how Colorado managed the Rantanen situation, the question now is whether the Avalanche are willing to risk losing Necas for nothing in free agency. That’s a dilemma the front office is actively weighing. If the team decides to move the 26-year-old forward, a potential solution could be a straight-up swap with the New Jersey Devils.
Proposed trade:
- Avalanche receive: Timo Meier
- Devils receive: Martin Necas
The move would exchange two top-tier wingers, with Necas heading to New Jersey likely to secure a long-term extension, while Meier — already signed through 2030 on an eight-year, $70.4 million deal — would bolster Colorado’s lineup immediately.
If the Colorado Avalanche decide to move Martin Necas, they’ll be targeting a return that keeps them in the Stanley Cup hunt — draft picks and prospects won’t be enough for GM Chris MacFarland.
One intriguing option is Timo Meier, a three-time 30-goal scorer entering the prime of his career. Meier brings a true power forward presence with a booming shot and physical edge tailor-made for playoff hockey — a much different style than Necas. He’s versatile enough to play anywhere in the top six and could immediately step onto the top power-play unit, taking the one-timer spot opposite Nathan MacKinnon.
While Colorado’s cap situation is tight, placing the injured Logan O’Connor on LTIR would open up the space needed to make the deal work.
New Jersey tweaks their core
The Timo Meier stint in New Jersey hasn’t exactly lived up to expectations. While it hasn’t been a complete disappointment, the overall fit has been somewhat awkward.
Martin Necas, on the other hand, brings a fast, skill-driven style that could blend seamlessly with Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt, and Nico Hischier. His right-handed shot would also add valuable balance to a Devils top six that currently leans heavily left.
Although there’s still some uncertainty surrounding what Luke Hughes’ next contract will look like, GM Tom Fitzgerald should have little trouble accommodating a long-term deal for Necas within New Jersey’s cap structure.