Necas remains in Carolina but a reported package from Winnipeg changes the story

Carolina Hurricanes forward Martin Necas has been front and center for most of the offseason, especially in the rumor mill.

Once the Canes were eliminated from the playoffs, his landing spots were swirling. During the lead-up to the NHL Draft in late June, everyone thought he was destined to be traded. Instead, he remained a Hurricane, signing a two-year extension worth $13 million on Monday.

With Jake Guentzel signing in Tampa Bay, this move felt inevitable. Necas had a career season with the Hurricanes during the 2022-23 campaign, finishing with 28 goals and 43 assists for a team-leading 71 points.

He took a step back last season, scoring 53 points while putting together his second straight 20-goal season.

The Winnipeg Jets reportedly put together a decent package for Necas

The Devils and Blue Jackets seemed to be very interested in acquiring the services of Martin Necas at the draft, though nothing materialized. It sounds like the Jets also made a push.

Appearing on The DFO Rundown podcast, Frank Serevalli, when talking about Necas, suggested that the Jets offered a package of Cole Perfetti, Rutger McGroarty, and a draft pick, though this didn't come to be.

Taking this news with a grain of salt, this would've been quite the return for the Hurricanes if they'd chosen to pull the trigger. Like Necas, Cole Perfetti is a restricted free agent who hasn't signed a new contract with the Jets.

Given his age and production, Perfetti's next contract will likely be much cheaper than the one Necas signed on Monday, and the Jets have been trying to trade Rutger McGroarty's signing rights all summer after the former first-round pick announced he'd be returning to Michigan for the upcoming season.

One of the biggest hurdles the Hurricanes needed to clear with a Necas trade was finding a place where Necas would've felt good signing a long-term deal.

It's what killed a potential trade to the Blue Jackets. While it's unclear why the reported Winnipeg deal fell through, Serevalli added that a trade with the Buffalo Sabres didn't happen because Necas wasn't interested in signing there.

While it was a two-year deal that Martin Necas signed, trade rumors have followed him for years. A year from now, I expect the speculation to be running rampant that Necas could be on the move with one year left on his deal.

This new contract does take him right into his first year as an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2025-26 season.

In the meantime, Necas will remain with the Hurricanes, trying to prove that he's ready for more responsibility under Rod Brind'Amour's system.

The new deal is the final piece of a memorable offseason for Necas. Along with his raise, Necas was part of the Czechia team that won gold at the World Championships in May.

Necas recorded a goal and six assists during the tournament, including a four-point performance in the team's semifinal victory over Sweden.