Hurricanes GM confident they'll sign Necas: 'It's going to get done'

Carolina Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell says he's on the verge of getting Martin Necas under contract.

"We're speaking on almost a daily basis, and it's getting close," Waddell said, according to the News & Observer's Chip Alexander. "I can only speak for my side of it, but it's going to get done."

Necas, who's coming off a three-year pact that carried an average annual value of $863,333, is a restricted free agent. The Hurricanes have approximately $1.9 million in cap space, per CapFriendly.

The 23-year-old produced 14 goals and 26 assists over 78 games this past season. He scored at a career-low rate of 8.8% in 2021-22 compared to his previous career average of 14.9% over the prior three-plus campaigns.

Carolina controlled the expected goals at a rate of just under 50% (49.98%) with Necas on the ice at five-on-five this past season, according to Natural Stat Trick. The Canes performed slightly better in terms of scoring chances at 50.97% in the same situations.

Necas is Carolina's lone remaining free agent. He's ineligible for arbitration and won't be allowed to go that route until after 2022-23.

The Hurricanes made a couple of big splashes this summer, trading for talented forward Max Pacioretty and veteran defenseman Brent Burns in separate deals. However, Carolina shipped out experienced blue-liner Tony DeAngelo and lost underrated center Vincent Trocheck, along with solid depth forward Nino Niederreiter, in free agency.

Necas has spent his entire career with the Hurricanes, who drafted him 12th overall in 2017.

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