Did anybody see this type of season coming for Carolina Hurricanes forward Martin Necas?
The Czech winger is comfortably leading the Canes in every scoring category with 14 goals and 44 points in 31 games and not only that, but he’s also sitting seventh overall in total league scoring just behind guys like Nathan MacKinnon and Connor McDavid.
Necas has been a prolific scorer for Carolina this season, already with multiple four-point nights and 14 multi-point games in total and these performances have left even his teammates speechless.
“Unreal. He’s… no words. No words,” said forward Jack Roslovic
“He’s really hot and just a special player,” said forward and frequent linemate Eric Robinson
“Oh my gosh, it’s unbelievable,” said goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov
While teammates and Hurricanes fans alike have been able to savor Necas’ breakout season, the reality is that this emergence almost happened somewhere else entirely.
After a disappointing 2023-24 campaign, where the 2017 first-round pick had just 53 points in 77 games, the writing looked to be on the wall for the supposedly disgruntled Czech who seemed all but traded heading into the summer.
It was obvious that the forward had talent, namely world-class speed and skating ability, but it just seemed that all of the promising aspects of his game could never quite fall into place. Turnovers were prevalent and a lack of backchecking and defensive effort saw his overall impact crater when he wasn’t producing.
As the summer progressed, things looked bleak as it was reported that teams were calling on the speedy forward and that multiple times, things had progressed far enough that Necas had to be broached about possible extensions in other markets, but nothing ever got across the line.
And eventually, Carolina general manager Eric Tulsky and the Hurricanes’ front office found ground with Necas and his camp on a two-year, $13 million deal, which has immediately paid dividends for both sides.
“I always believed in myself,” Necas said. “When your whole team is playing good, your linemates, the power play’s clicking, then it’s way easier to get points.”
Necas was actually the first player in the NHL to 40 points this season and that along with a 13-game point streak helped make him the NHL’s Player of the Month for November, making him just the sixth player in franchise history to earn that honor.
“Obviously when things are going your way, you’re in the zone,” Necas said. “That’s what I’m feeling, and I’m trying to get there and stay there as long as I can. Just like we talk about with consistency. Just try to bring it each night.”
If not for Necas, who’s currently on pace for 116 points which would be the most ever by a player in a single season in franchise history, there’s no telling where the Hurricanes would be in the standings now a third of the way through the season.
The team has had to wade through prevalent 5v5 scoring issues amongst quite a few of their top players, but luckily for them, Necas has consistently stepped up.
“He’s certainly driving the ship for us, there’s no doubt about it, pretty much on a nightly basis here,” said Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour. “Very, very good to see.
So what’s been different?
If you ask Necas, really not much other than another year of experience and maturity.
“Obviously it feels better than what I’ve been used to, but I’ve always been confident in myself,” Necas said. “I have a great team and great linemates . I kind of figured out the way we play, built some chemistry and it’s been great. Same with the power play. It’s always fun to play this way.”
His coach doesn’t think there’s much difference either.
“I don’t think anybody could have expected the points, maybe, but you watch him play and he’s always stood out,” said Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour. “That always happened. Now we’re just getting a lot more standouts on goals and assists and things like that. Puck’s going in the net when he’s touching it. But the talent’s always been there, the skating ability, the kind of wild card factor when you watch him play. That’s always stood out.”
For Necas, this hot start is great, but it isn’t anything for him to hang his hat on just yet.
He’s talked at length about how there’s still plenty more season to go including – most importantly – the playoffs.
“I want to be more of a leader,” Necas said. “I’m still pretty young, but not what I used to be. I feel like I have some experience now and I’ve been with this group for a long time. We still have a tight core together and I feel like we can do some special things. I feel like I can step up even more and continue to help this team.”
