CENTENNIAL – Marty Nečas just wants to play hockey.
If discontent truly lingers beneath the surface, Nečas has hidden it masterfully. During Tuesday’s optional skate, he appeared not only engaged but genuinely energized by the environment around him. His rapport with newly-acquired defenseman Brent Burns was particularly notable; Burns, whose effervescent personality has long been credited with transforming locker rooms, seemed to bring out an ease in Nečas that dispelled any notion of disconnection. Furthermore, they were also teammates in Carolina, so keep that in mind, they do have history together. Nečas also participated in Monday’s session and has looked sharp throughout, building early chemistry with Brock Nelson, fresh off a three-year, $22.5 million extension.
The optics of Nečas’s demeanor stand in stark contrast to the body language once displayed by Matt Duchene in the final days of his Colorado tenure. Duchene’s skating, posture, and even conversational tone all betrayed a desire to be anywhere but within the Avalanche orbit. Nečas has shown no such signals. On the contrary, he has elevated his game on the ice—demonstrating both skill and buy-in. And while raw talent can mask discomfort in the short term, over time even the most casual observer can discern who wants out. To date, Nečas has projected the opposite: commitment, confidence, competitive readiness, and a smile.
Don’t worry about the extension yet
With a full year remaining on his contract, there is little urgency to rush into negotiations with Nečas. Since joining the Colorado Avalanche, he has recorded 28 points (11 goals, 17 assists) in his first 30 games—nearly a point-per-game pace. Consider the circumstances: drafted 12th overall by Carolina, Nečas spent parts of eight seasons with the Hurricanes, surrounded largely by the same teammates. Then, in an instant, he was traded across the country, tasked with uprooting his life, joining a new locker room, and building chemistry with players he had scarcely spoken to. That he delivered immediate production under those conditions is nothing short of remarkable.
Moreover, despite being dealt mid-season, Nečas still produced a career-high 83 points (27 goals, 56 assists) in just 79 games. Viewed in that light, his trajectory is unmistakable—he continues to improve with each passing season. In fact, during the 2022–23 campaign, Nečas appeared in all 82 games for Carolina and still finished with fewer points than he recorded last year, despite playing in fewer contests.
With Nečas now in the fold to begin the season—and, if all unfolds as expected, for the foreseeable future—the Colorado Avalanche enter the campaign with one of the league’s most formidable cores intact. Consider the names atop this roster. Nathan MacKinnon appears poised to record another 100-point season, while Cale Makar should comfortably land in the 85–90 range. If Nečas continues on his current trajectory, it is hardly far-fetched to envision him eclipsing the 100-point threshold for the first time in his career. Add to that a healthy Valeri Nichushkin—who, if available for the bulk of the schedule, could reasonably contribute 68–70 points—and suddenly Colorado has four players capable of producing a combined 380 points. Few teams in the NHL can boast that level of offensive potential.
Colorado Avalanche fans would prefer to see Necas extended
Naturally, fans would prefer to see Nečas sign a long-term extension immediately, quelling speculation and offering instant reassurance. But hockey seasons are not won on paper contracts; they are forged on chemistry, cohesion, and consistency. The more pressing priority at this stage is not financial paperwork but the establishment of rhythm and rapport within the group, building on last year’s camaraderie and momentum.
If the Avalanche can open the season strong, generating both wins and league-wide conversation about another Stanley Cup pursuit, the contractual question will resurface at the appropriate time. Extensions, in situations like this, have a way of taking care of themselves once the performance validates the investment. What cannot be rushed is the cultivation of on-ice synergy—and that is where Colorado’s focus, rightly, belongs.
The Dallas Stars had their laugh last spring when Mikko Rantanen single-handedly sent his former team packing. Yet if the Avalanche can push through and capture a Stanley Cup with this roster, that viral moment will shift from embarrassment to irrelevance—overshadowed by the return of Colorado’s place among the NHL’s most formidable powers.