When it comes to adding talent in free agency and trades this summer, the Blackhawks can afford to be pickier than most. As they begin the journey out of their lengthy rebuild, the team has reached the stage where they’ll attempt to bring in veteran talent to mesh with the young core already in place. As they do so, however, Chicago will consider two important factors – age and cost.
Given the young group of players currently on the Blackhawks, age is an important factor in keying in on big-name veterans. There’s a need for players near the end of their careers like Nick Foligno, but those roles have already been filled. Signing a player currently in his 30s would be fruitless, as the Blackhawks aren’t quite ready to compete for a championship just yet and don’t have a need for players past their prime.
The Blackhawks will also be searching for players that come at a reasonable cost. If Chicago wants to acquire a player who will be around in the long term, they won’t be able to pay a huge premium for that player. Even though the team currently leads the NHL in cap space, their main priority has been to maintain cap flexibility because players like Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar and Kevin Korchinski will all need new deals within the next two years.
When discussing possible fits for Chicago, one name continues to stick out. The availability of Carolina forward Martin Necas has garnered the attention of multiple insiders as the league continues to hurtle toward free agency.
In his “32 Thoughts” podcast a few weeks ago, Elliotte Friedman got the ball rolling when he said he expects big changes this summer for the Hurricanes, including the status of Necas, a pending RFA. After playing out his two-year bridge deal with a $3 million AAV, Necas and Carolina have different intentions, Friedman says. He mentioned that he believes the rights of Necas could be traded this summer.
On Wednesday, Frank Seravalli of the Daily Faceoff listed Necas at No. 4 on his big board of trade targets. Among concerns about the situation in Carolina were Necas’s unhappiness, his father telling media in the Czech Republic that he would like to be traded, and an uncertain status in the GM role for the Hurricanes.
“Well, this is interesting. Necas has apparently made it clear to the Canes that he’s looking for more opportunity, which is difficult to find with Seth Jarvis and Andrei Svechnikov ahead of you on the depth chart. Opposing teams have made it clear to Carolina that they really want to get their hands on Necas… Necas is due a sizable raise.”
– Frank Seravalli
At 25 years old, Necas is certainly due for a salary bump. Even with limited opportunities due to his team’s depth on the right side, he tallied 53 points and added a strong showing in 11 postseason games. With advanced databases projecting a new contract with an AAV of over $7 million, Necas will come with a hefty price tag.
However, Necas is a perfect candidate to join the Blackhawks’ rebuild. As he prepares for restricted free agency, there’s no cheaper time to get him than now. His age is perfect for the rebuild, as he has enough years left in his career to turn into a true franchise cornerstone. While the price may be an issue down the road, it’ll be hard for Chicago to pass up the opportunity to grab him. The Blackhawks have a vast war chest of draft picks to use, and acquiring Necas would be the perfect way to spend them.
The young star won’t come cheap, but he’s the perfect candidate to be added to the Blackhawks’ nearly completed rebuild. Necas’s age, talent, production and fit could make him the missing piece of Chicago’s puzzle.
