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Martin Necas has been quick to build strong on-ice chemistry with his new Colorado Avalanche teammates.
Necas admitted life has been hectic since the Jan. 24 blockbuster trade that sent him and Carolina Hurricanes teammate Jack Drury to Colorado in exchange for Mikko Rantanen, as part of a three-team deal. The forward didn’t have much time to reflect on the trade before suiting up for his first game with his new team.
Through his first 19 games in Denver, Necas has been sensational, scoring seven goals, three of them game-winners, and recording 18 points.
“It was a whirlwind after the trade,” recalled the 26-year-old, who grew up in Nové Město na Moravě – a town of 9,800 people in Czechia. “Jack and I were traded on Friday, then flew to Boston to play that night. It was good to get going right away, but the first game was tough. After that, I was able to settle in. We lost, but I knew things would get better.”
Better than Necas, who was drafted 12th overall by Carolina in 2017, could have ever envisioned.
Playing centre on one of the league’s most formidable first lines alongside last year’s Ted Lindsay Award recipient, Nathan MacKinnon, who currently leads all scorers with 103 points, and Artturi Lehkonen, who is tied with MacKinnon for the team lead in goals (27), Necas has been an ideal fit.
“Feeling comfortable on the ice is the most important thing after a trade, and it’s been amazing. The guys here made me feel right at home. The Carolina guys will always be like brothers to me – I still stay in touch with them – but everyone here has welcomed me, and it’s been a lot of fun.”
A veteran of 430 NHL regular-season games, Necas is enjoying the opportunity to be part of a group that was always a challenge to play against.
“They play so quick and control the puck and are so effective in so many ways. They are a very good team, with a lot of skill, and can push the pace a lot. They were always tough to play against, so it’s been nice to see it from a different side now.”
Necas also has high praise for MacKinnon, who reached the 1,000-point plateau on March 10 with his first two assists against the Chicago Blackhawks. He became the third player in franchise history to hit the 1,000-point mark, joining Hockey Hall of Fame inductees Joe Sakic (1,641 points) and Peter Stastny (1,048 points).
“He does everything to win,” praised Necas. “He is very intense and not just on the ice. He is always so well prepared for the games. Obviously, he’s a brilliant player and he is a great teammate, too.”
With the shock of the trade now behind him, Necas, who recorded 55 points in his first 49 games of the 2024-25 season with Carolina, is now focused on helping the Avalanche make a Stanley Cup run.
Colorado’s primary goal, for now, is to arrive at the post-season in top form.
“You want to be playing your best hockey heading into the playoffs and that’s the focus for us,” said Necas, who played a starring role for Czechia’s gold medal run at the 2024 IIHF World Ice Hockey Championship. “We want to keep building on team chemistry until the 82nd game and then go on from there.”
Necas, who has recorded a career-best 73 points in 2024-25, is ready for the challenge ahead.
“When you are traded, you know it will take some time to adjust to things on your new team. But the guys here have been great and made that transition a lot easier. They have made me feel comfortable on and off the ice.”
