We will obviously not have his number 88 embroidered prematurely on a Canadian uniform, but the murmurs linking striker Martin Necas to the CH are intensifying, rightly or wrongly.
“The Montreal Canadiens are among the most interested clubs, I am convinced,” said informant Darren Dreger of TSN on Thursday in the podcast Ray and Dregs, with former hockey player Ray Ferraro. “I see it in Montreal. This is the kind of piece the Canadian needs to make a jump in the standings. The reconstruction is complete. »
Dreger has his entries in all four corners of the NHL. Is this a Hurricanes strategy to titillate the market?
Necas, 25, a first-round pick, 12e in total, in 2017, one place ahead of Nick Suzuki, would require a trade. His father expressed his dissatisfaction in the Czech media recently.
This 6-foot-2, 189-pound right-handed winger is a spectacular forward. He had his best career season in 2022-2023, with 71 points, including 28 goals, at the top of the scorers for the Hurricanes, but his production dropped to 53 points, including 24 goals, this winter.
He is criticized for his lack of consistency, which has contributed to a lot of instability in recent years, tossed between the first and fourth trio.
The Hurricanes will be greedy and their needs are clear. Two important left-handed defenders, Brett Pesce, 29, and Brady Skjei, 30, will be entitled to full autonomy starting on 1er July. Both played more than 20 minutes per game in the regular season. Jaccob Slavin, another left-handed defender, has one year remaining on his contract. Right-handed defenseman Brent Burns is one year away from full autonomy as well.
After three seasons of over 100 points, four playoff rounds won in three springs, a core still young, the Hurricanes are not in rebuilding or reset mode.
It’s hard to see them not demanding an experienced and dominant defender in return. Mike Matheson has the perfect profile for the Hurricanes. He’s 30 years old, just had 62 points, with an average ice time of 25:33, for third in the NHL behind John Carlson and Drew Doughty. He has two years left on his contract at a very reasonable annual salary of 4.875 million per season.
Swapping Mike Matheson for Martin Necas would enrich the offensive line-up and fit well into the team’s rejuvenation process, but would hinder the Canadian’s desire to climb the rankings next season.
Matheson plays in abundance, is effective in restarts and has a very significant influence on this young group. Montreal would find itself with an inexperienced group in defense, with Kaiden Guhle, returning to the left by force of circumstances, Lane Hutson, Jordan Harris and Arber Xhekaj.
On the other hand, if Matheson isn’t traded within the next year, he will have one year left on his contract before full free agency. It’s hard to see the CH trading him at the trade deadline in March 2026 if the team is fighting for a playoff spot, and we risk losing him on the free agent market at the end of the season without getting anything in return. back.
But a lot can happen in two years and logic would recommend pushing back the deadline for such a decision.
Lian Bischel must be ready
If defenseman Chris Tanev is unable to play, Friday night, Lian Bischel could play his first career game in the NHL. Who is Bischel? A 6-foot-6, 233-pound, 20-year-old Swiss defenseman who remains another Dallas Stars draft find.
Bischel was drafted at 18e rank in 2022, the year of Juraj Slafkovsky. We could hear his name echoing in Montreal as he relegated the Canadian’s Swedish hope, Adam Engström, six months his senior, to a third playoff pairing with Rögle. Bischel is not known for his offensive contribution, but he is a pillar defensively. He may not be able to start his career on Friday, but you will be hearing about this young man for the next few years.