Avalanche face déjà vu dilemma with Martin Necas as salary cap looms
The Colorado Avalanche find themselves in a familiar predicament as they approach the start of the new season. A year ago, the team faced a pivotal decision regarding Mikko Rantanen, and now they are staring down a similar situation with Martin Necas. If the Avalanche had a crystal ball last year, they might have made different choices regarding Rantanen, who is now thriving elsewhere.
The Rantanen Fallout
Rantanen, the former No. 10 pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, was once a cornerstone of the Avalanche’s forward lineup. As his unrestricted free agency date approached last January, Colorado made the difficult decision to trade him to the Carolina Hurricanes in a complex three-team deal. In return, the Avalanche received forwards Jack Drury and Martin Necas. However, Carolina’s inability to secure an extension for Rantanen led to a swift trade to the Dallas Stars, who signed him to an eight-year, $96 million contract.
The ramifications of this move were felt acutely when Rantanen returned to haunt Colorado in the playoffs, scoring five goals and seven assists in a first-round series, culminating in a Game 7 hat trick that eliminated the Avalanche from contention. This painful exit still lingers in the minds of Colorado’s management.
New Collective Bargaining Agreement Changes the Landscape
Fast forward to June, and the NHL and NHLPA introduced a new Collective Bargaining Agreement that will significantly alter the financial landscape starting in 2026. Under this new agreement, the salary cap is set to rise steadily from $88 million in 2024-25 to $113.5 million by 2027-28. This change raises questions about whether Colorado could have navigated Rantanen’s contract situation differently had they known the cap would soon expand.
Now, the Avalanche face a similar scenario with Necas, who, at 26 years old, is one season away from unrestricted free agency. The parallels to last year’s Rantanen saga are striking, especially in light of recent reports that superstar Kirill Kaprizov rejected an eight-year, $126 million offer from the Minnesota Wild.
The Case for Martin Necas
As NHL insider Frank Seravalli pointed out, the Avalanche are once again at a crossroads. Necas has emerged as a dynamic player, tallying 83 points in 79 games last season, split between Carolina and Colorado. His speed, creativity, and ability to lead a line make him a crucial asset for the Avalanche, especially as they look to support Nathan MacKinnon.
Necas is currently playing under a two-year, $6 million bridge deal with the Hurricanes, which expires after this season. This contract makes him a prime target for a lucrative offer as he approaches unrestricted free agency in July 2026. The Avalanche would prefer to sign him to a long-term deal before that happens, but with every day that passes, his price tag rises along with the salary cap.
This situation creates a cruel irony for Colorado. Last fall, they hesitated to commit to Rantanen, fearing a future cap crunch. Now, they face the same dilemma with Necas, but with the benefit of knowing a significant cap increase is on the horizon.
The Stakes for Colorado
The stakes are high for general manager Chris MacFarland and the Avalanche organization. Losing Rantanen was a blow, and the thought of potentially losing another top-line winger in Necas, just as the salary cap is about to expand, could be seen as almost negligent.
As training camp approaches, the pressure is mounting. National media attention is already focused on the situation, signaling that both sides may be growing impatient. If the Avalanche do not feel confident about securing an extension for Necas, trade rumors will inevitably surface. Trading a player shortly after acquiring him would not only be an awkward public relations move but would also undermine the team’s offensive depth during MacKinnon’s prime years.
Navigating the Future
Colorado is not in a rebuilding phase; they are in win-now mode. The challenge lies in balancing immediate success with future planning. If they choose to trade Necas to avoid a repeat of the Rantanen situation, they protect their asset column but risk damaging their roster’s competitive edge.
As the season kicks off, Necas is expected to play a pivotal role in the Avalanche’s pursuit of another playoff run. However, looming over every game, every goal, and every headline is the question that haunted Colorado last season: will the Avalanche invest in keeping their emerging star, or will they watch him flourish elsewhere?
Should Colorado find themselves in the position of trading Martin Necas just a year after parting ways with Mikko Rantanen, the echoes of past decisions will not only be striking but potentially haunting for the franchise.
