Martin Necas’s breakout season with the Colorado Avalanche is raising questions about his future with the team. Can the Avs afford to re-sign him?
The thin mountain air in Denver might be getting a little harder to breathe for the Colorado Avalanche front office, and it has nothing to do with the altitude. The reason? Martin Necas. The Czech forward, acquired in a blockbuster three-team trade that saw fan-favorite Mikko Rantanen head to Carolina, is off to a blistering start with 6 points in his first 3 games. While Avalanche fans are ecstatic with his performance, a sense of déjà vu is creeping in, and it’s whispering the name “Rantanen.”
The 26-year-old winger is playing like a man possessed, and on a line with Nathan MacKinnon, who wouldn’t be? Necas is on pace to shatter his previous career-high of 83 points and could very well flirt with the 90-point mark. Here’s where the Avalanche’s problem begins. With a current AAV of $6 million, Necas will be an unrestricted free agent next July, and a 90-point season will have his agent justifiably demanding a contract north of $10 million per year.
The Domino Effect of a Career Year
This isn’t just about one player’s contract; it’s about the entire financial ecosystem of a championship-caliber team. The specter of Cale Makar’s looming extension in 2027 casts a long shadow over every financial decision. Makar, arguably the best defenseman in the world, could command a contract that rivals Kirill Kaprizov’s $17 million AAV. Can the Avalanche afford two players making that kind of money, plus another in Necas at over $10 million? The math gets complicated, and a casualty is almost inevitable.
This brings us to the uncomfortable question: who becomes the odd man out? Names like Brock Nelson, Devon Toews, Valeri Nichushkin, and even goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood are already being floated as potential trade chips to clear the necessary cap space. It’s a high-stakes game of musical chairs, and the Avalanche are hoping they aren’t left standing when the music stops.
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