The Colorado Avalanche knew they were making the biggest move of the NHL season when they traded Mikko Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes—but they likely didn’t anticipate the domino effect it would trigger months later. According to recent reports, Nathan MacKinnon and the Avs are now facing complications involving Martin Necas, who they acquired in return for Rantanen.
The Avalanche witnessed the first severe consequence of their actions when Rantanen faced them with the Dallas Stars in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. ‘The Moose’ steamrolled MacKinnon and Colorado with 12 points in the series, including a hat trick in a winner-takes-all Game 7.
Although the Stars fell in the Western Conference Final and Rantanen’s production tapered off, there’s little doubt Dallas emerged stronger from the Rantanen saga. Colorado, on the other hand, got limited returns from Necas, who posted just five points in the postseason.
The Stars have already locked up Rantanen for the future, signing him to an eight-year extension. Meanwhile, the Avalanche are facing uncertainty with Martin Nečas, who is entering a contract year in the 2025–26 season and may not see himself staying in Denver alongside MacKinnon and company beyond that.
Mikko Rantanen playing for the Dallas Stars in the 2024-25 NHL season.
“There was a sense Necas wasn’t overly thrilled with his experience in Colorado and that he wants to explore other options,” Sportsnet insider Nick Kypreos stated about some players to watch in the upcoming NHL offseason. “How much patience will they have with Necas if negotiations on an extension start slowly this July?”
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Priority UFA
While figuring out the Necas’ situation is paramount for the Avalanche, the organization is prioritizing the re-signing of veteran Brock Nelson, who arrived during the trade deadline from the New York Islanders.
Nelson became a pivotal presence, both on and off-the-ice for MacKinnon’s Avalanche, and the organization in Colorado would have great use for such an experienced voice inside the locker room for the 2025-26 season.
