Report: Teams calling Hurricanes about Necas

Multiple teams around the NHL have called the Carolina Hurricanes regarding the availability of forward Martin Necas, sources told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.

The 25-year-old is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights who can become an unrestricted free agent in 2026. Evolving-Hockey projects Necas will earn $8.8 million annually on an eight-year contract.

Keeping Necas could prove difficult for the Hurricanes considering Seth Jarvis and Jack Drury are also RFAs who are due for raises. Plus, the team has multiple notable UFAs, including Jake Guentzel, Teuvo Teravainen, Jordan Martinook, Brady Skjei, and Brett Pesce. The team is reportedly attempting to keep Guentzel and Skjei.

Necas produced 24 goals and 29 assists in 77 games this past season as a winger. He recorded a career-high 71 points in 82 games in 2022-23 while splitting time between center and wing.

Necas helped Czechia win gold at the 2024 World Championship, collecting seven points in five games.

"We'll see what's going to happen," Necas said after Czechia's victory on Sunday when asked about the trade rumors. "I don't really care right now. What's going to happen is going to happen. My agent is going to deal with that. We're going to figure it out. Now I'm going to celebrate this medal and I'm going to enjoy it for a while."

The Hurricanes reportedly dangled Necas in trade discussions involving Elias Pettersson before the Swede ultimately signed an extension with the Vancouver Canucks this season. Necas was reportedly also included in trade offers to the Calgary Flames for Matthew Tkachuk in 2022.

Carolina would want a star-caliber player back in any package for Necas, LeBrun added.

The Hurricanes drafted Necas 12th overall in 2017.