The Colorado Avalanche executed one of their stranger midseason roster overhauls in recent memory.
The Brock Nelson, Charlie Coyle, and Ryan Lindgren/Jimmy Vesey trades, along with captain Gabriel Landeskog’s emotional return to the ice, all took a back seat to the blockbuster Mikko Rantanen for Martin Nečas and Jack Drury deal.
Rantanen wanted to stay in Colorado, general manager Chris MacFarland did not like the money, and he figured Nečas could produce on Nathan MacKinnon’s line. Nečas was impressive, recording 11 goals and 28 points over 30 games for the Avalanche, but there are questions about his future with the organization.
According to NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman, it is unclear if Nečas will stay in Colorado long term.
Nečas, 26, has one year left at $6.5 million before hitting free agency next summer. He does play that hard, fast game necessary to thrive with MacKinnon, and comes at a far cheaper price than Rantanen, who signed an eight-year, $96 million contract with the Dallas Stars.
However, as highly as MacFarland may view Nečas, he has never netted 30 goals, and has surpassed 53 points just twice in eight seasons (71 in 2022-23, 83 in 2024-25). He is still growing into his prime and is worthy of a significant payday, and this upcoming campaign will reveal more about his fit on the team.
Losing Nečas for nothing would make the already disastrous Rantanen trade even more painful, and perhaps, feeling that pressure, the Avalanche decide to ship him at the deadline.
Any Nečas discussions also have to consider Cale Makar. The league’s top defenseman will be a free agent after the 2026-27 season, and with the salary cap on the rise, he should earn somewhere in the $15 million annual average value range.
Nečas could also sign a contract soon and put these concerns to rest, but it feels like this will linger throughout the winter in Colorado.
