On Thursday, the Colorado Avalanche extended would-be 2026 free agent Martin Necas to an eight-year deal worth $92 million ($11.5 million AAV). There has been some talk/debate on whether or not it was a good deal or if the Avalanche should have kept Mikko Rantanen on a little bit more expensive deal.
Well, that’s all up for debate and I’ll leave that to others to discuss. However, it appears that, according to Elliotte Friedman, the Avalanche were always going to get to keep Necas, who was acquired in the trade that sent Rantanen to Carolina. Friedman said on his 32 Thoughts podcast that he believes that Necas would have been able to secure more money if he chose to go that route in 2026 free agency.
Friedman pointed out that Necas wanted to make sure that he felt comfortable in the current situation and that signing an extension was the right move. Obviously, making that decision is a big deal for the player, as he’d be tied to Colorado for years to come.
Friedman had the following to say about the Necas extension:
"“So this actually came together pretty quickly. Like at the beginning of the season, I had heard Necas was willing to wait a while to see how it went. And obviously, it went really well. I said the one thing I would change from Colorado's point of view if I could, but the bottom line is this is where we are. This is the reality. And I think Necas could potentially have gotten more on the open market, especially, look, he's got 13 points in 11 games this year, Kyle. If he's a 90-point guy, he definitely beats 11 and a half on the open market. But I think he likes winning, and that Colorado team is going to be in position to win for a long time.”"NHL insider Elliotte Friedman
That’s an interesting thought by Friedman. If Necas is indeed a 90-point player, then he really could have gotten more than the $11.5 million AAV that he just signed. It tells me that Necas is comfortable where he’s at and wants to win. And as Friedman believes, the Avalanche will be contenders for quite some time.
It’s also important to note that the salary cap is projected to be huge in the 2026-27 season.
If Necas does come close to or surpasses the 90-point mark, then I’d say that the Avalanche got themselves a bargain. I strongly believe that he can provide that contribution this upcoming season, especially if Nathan MacKinnon is contributing with his typical 100-point seasons. Both of these players seem to go really well together. In fact, it’s pretty hard to mess up being on the same line as one of the best hockey players in the world.
Fans were upset that Necas had just one goal and four assists in seven postseason games for Colorado. I chalked that up to the inexperience in the postseason with his new team. If he ends up putting up another stinker in future postseasons, then I would start to think about hitting the panic button. Not everybody is going to be a great postseason player, but as a guy who is on the first line, he will have to figure it out and step up.
I understand the concern about his playoff performances, and it’s fair to question his contribution until he proves that he can be a point-getter in the games that matter most. Perhaps his second year with the team—and first full year—will be much different in the postseason.
The reality is that none of the “what-ifs” even matter at this point. Necas is tied to Colorado for likely the rest of his career, while Rantanen is now a division rival. What matters now is what each player puts out onto the ice.