Avalanche forward Martin Necas wants to explore other options?

In today’s NHL rumors rundown, a report has surfaced that Martin Necas might not have “been thrilled” with his experience in Colorado. 

Does that report, along with the recent Brock Nelson signing, hint that a trade might be coming this offseason? Meanwhile, the Boston Bruins have hired Marco Sturm as their next head coach. Who else might be joining his staff? Finally, will the Toronto Maple Leafs add another puck-moving defenseman, and could that lead to discussions of a Morgan Rielly trade?

Necas not “Thrilled” with Avalanche experience

Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos reports that Martin Necas “wasn’t overly thrilled” with his experience in Colorado and wants to explore other options. He’s still got another year left on his current contract, but the Avalanche are tight on cap space and they just signed Brock Nelson to a three-year extension. If it’s evident that Necas intends to test free agency and not re-sign with the Avalanche, could he be traded this offseason?

There will be no shortage of interested parties if Necas becomes available. At $6.5 million for one more season, he’s a value contract, even though he could get a significant raise when his contract expires. He became a point-per-game player this season, and he showed that he can adapt quickly to a new team.

If the Avalanche decide to trade him, they’ll need to find a way to replace his scoring. Necas was a key piece in the Mikko Rantanen trade.

Bruins hire Marco Sturm

Marco Sturm has been named the 30th head coach in Bruins history. The team made the hiring official on Thursday, following a prolonged search and several interviews. Sturm coached the Ontario Reign of the AHL for the last three seasons, resulting in a 119-80-17 record, a .593 winning percentage.

The Bruins did say that key to their decision was that the successful candidate would be someone who was thrilled to be part of the Bruins’ organization. Sturm, being a former player, has ties to the team and a loyalty to the franchise.

Maple Leafs want another puck-moving D-man; Morgan Rielly trade?

Despite reports the Maple Leafs will not ask Morgan Rielly to waive his no-trade clause and that the team has no real desire to explore a trade, Kypreos reports, “he is the logical first place the Leafs could look if they want to make deeper changes to the roster.”