Recent speculation over the futures of
Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid and Minnesota Wild left winger
Kirill Kaprizov overshadowed Martin Necas’ contract situation with
the Colorado Avalanche.
Like McDavid and Kaprizov, Necas is
UFA-eligible next July. If those two end up staying with their
respective clubs, the 26-year-old right winger will become one of the most
prized players in next summer’s free-agent market.
Corey Masisak of The Denver Post
recently included Necas’ contract negotiations among his 10 biggest
questions facing the Avalanche this season. He believes they must get
him signed to a deal that works for them now and after superstar
defenseman Cale Makar’s next contract goes into effect.
Otherwise, Avalanche management must
consider a trade. Masisak believes their asking price for Necas will
be expensive, considering he was part of the return from the Carolina
Hurricanes in the Mikko Rantanen trade in January.
The Denver Gazette‘s Evan Rawal
was asked if Necas would re-sign with Colorado before Kaprizov does
with the Wild. He doesn’t rule out the possibility of him waiting to
see what Kaprizov gets before putting pen to paper with the
Avalanche.
Speaking of pending UFA players, Rasmus
Andersson recently returned to Calgary and spoke with the local media
regarding his future with the Flames.
Daniel Austin of the Calgary
Sun reported the 28-year-old defenseman is eager to start
this season despite it potentially being his last with the Flames. He
denied a report from earlier this summer claiming he’d only accept a
trade to the Vegas Golden Knights, calling it “fake information,” and doesn’t believe his situation will be a distraction for his
teammates.
Austin thinks Andersson will be moved
at some point before the March 6, 2026, trade deadline. However, he
pointed out that Flames GM Craig Conroy hasn’t closed the door on a
contract extension.
Meanwhile, in Columbus, Yegor Chinakhov
hasn’t rescinded the trade request he made two months ago.
Nevertheless, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic indicated last week
that the 24-year-old center’s situation hasn’t reached the point of
no return.
While GM Don Waddell remains open to
moving Chinakhov for the right offer, he noted that the young forward
was among the first players to return to Columbus for training camp
and appears to be in excellent shape.
Waddell is taking that as a positive
sign. However, Chinakhov must meet with coach Dean Evason before
training camp opens this week to discuss the “misunderstandings”
that prompted his trade request.
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