The Colorado Avalanche find themselves in a high-stakes poker game with one of their newest acquisitions, Martin Necas, and the cards will be on the table sooner than you think. When the Avs acquired Necas from the Carolina Hurricanes in the Mikko Rantanen trade, it was a move that screamed “win now.” But the “now” is quickly becoming “what about tomorrow?” Necas, a dynamic forward who is just entering his prime at 28, is a pending UFA next summer. His performance last season, hovering just under a point-per-game pace, has set the stage for a massive payday.
If he replicates that success this year, we could be looking at a contract demand in the neighborhood of $10 million per season. For a team like the Avalanche, who are already navigating a tight salary cap and have Cale Makar’s mega-extension on the horizon in 2027, that’s a number that should make Joe Sakic and Chris MacFarland sweat. This isn’t just about one player; it’s about the long-term financial flexibility of a perennial contender.
The High Price of Elite Talent
The situation with Martin Necas is a classic example of the salary cap squeeze that all top NHL teams face. The Avalanche have built a powerhouse, but keeping it together is the real challenge. Necas currently carries a $6.5 million cap hit, a number that looks like a bargain given his production. But the jump to a potential $10 million AAV is significant.
Can the Avalanche afford to have another player in that elite pay bracket alongside Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar? It’s a tough pill to swallow. Necas’ camp is smart to stay quiet. They know the leverage is on their side. Every goal, every assist, every game-changing play this season only drives up the price. The Avalanche are in a tough spot. Do they try to lock him up now and risk overpaying, or do they let the season play out and risk him walking for nothing next summer? It’s a delicate balancing act with massive implications for the future of the franchise.
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