Multiple Franchises Named as Potential Suitors for Avalanche Star Forward

Both franchises explored deals for him during his Carolina Hurricanes tenure, according to the same source, and each could justify a rental-plus-extension approach mid-season to try and make a deep postseason run.

Toronto’s front office is reported to be on the hunt for a legitimate top-six forward, while New York’s interest would hinge on whether it extends Artemi Panarin's expiring contract before next offseason.

One source told RG Media that if the Rangers “are back in the playoff hunt, they’ll circle back on Necas” later this season.

The source also named the Anaheim Ducks as a wild-card option, albeit that comes with potential problems. Anaheim has more than $13 million in cap space and a deep pool of prospects, the type of assets Colorado would likely target.

The catch, however, could have to do with the timing of future extensions to be handed out by the Ducks. Both Cutter Gauthier and Leo Carlsson are due for new deals next summer, and that could limit how far the Ducks go on an immediate extension for Necas.

Two rebuilding clubs, the Philadelphia Flyers and the San Jose Sharks, are also monitoring the situation, according to the same source. Each carries more than $6 million in cap space and could absorb a long-term deal outright, not to mention turn Necas into a core piece rather than a rental.

Necas is in the final season of a two-year, $13 million contract and, according to The Fourth Period, could seek roughly $10 million annually on his next deal.

Colorado’s challenge remains the impending Cale Makar extension, which could reset the market at over $17 million per season, effectively making retaining Necas impossible.

The Avalanche, off to a 2–0–0 start, host the Dallas Stars on Saturday night at 8 p.m. ET.