Carolina Hurricanes sign forward Martin Necas to new two-year, $6 million contract

The Carolina Hurricanes have signed Martin Necas to a two-year, $6 million contract, it was announced Tuesday.

The question now: how will the forward respond?

Necas, 23, is coming off a season that was inconsistent, one he called a personal step back. It came in the third and final season of his entry-level contract with the Canes, when there were so many financial incentives to perform well.

Necas, a restricted free agent, and his representation agreed to wait until after the season to hold contract negotiations with the Canes. While the former first-round draft pick had flashes of outstanding play with his elite speed, his quickness and skill, his offensive production went dry in stretches — he had 14 goals and 26 assists (40 points) in 78 games after finishing with 41 points in 53 games in the condensed 2021 season.

“It’s a long season and you have ups and downs, as a player, as a team. You’ve got to ... just battle through,” Necas said during the 2021-22 season.

The Hurricanes won the Metropolitan Division and set franchise records for wins and points, but were eliminated in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs by the New York Rangers.

Necas did not score a goal in the playoffs and had five assists in the 14 playoff games, against Boston and then the Rangers. That came after scoring one goal in the last 16 games of the regular season.

In his exit interview with the media, Necas said, “Obviously it was a disappointing season for me. I just couldn’t get into it. I’ve got to help the team more, got to produce way more.

“I was trying my best but sometimes it’s not going your way. And then confidence is a big thing in hockey. I don’t know, maybe it was too much in my head. I was thinking ‘You’ve got to get on the scoresheet’ and it wasn’t happening much. It was a tough season.”

Necas played right wing on different lines. Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour used him on the power play and as a penalty killer, but at other times kept him on the bench for extended minutes.

“Me and Roddy, we’ve got to trust each other a little more,” Necas said in the exit interview. “I’ve got to show him I can play in those minutes when it really matters, and that’s what I would like to play.”

To which Brind’Amour replied: “It’s good he got the message.”

Necas was the Canes’ first-round pick in 2017, taken 12th overall, and forward Andrei Svechnikov went second in the 2018 draft. The belief was the two young forwards would be emerging stars and help the Canes return to the playoffs for the first time since 2009.

Svechnikov delivered and has been well rewarded by the Canes. The power forward agreed to an eight-year, $62 million contract extension, or $7.75 million a year.

Necas has gotten a short-term, bridge-type deal, with the goal of a bigger payoff in a couple of years – with better play and by earning that Brind’Amour trust.

As Necas put it after the season, “Next year is a new year and I’m going to have a great summer and get ready for that.”