Avalanche ink Necas to 8-year, reported $92M extension

The Colorado Avalanche signed forward Martin Necas to an eight-year contract extension, the team announced Thursday.

The deal carries an average annual value of $11.5 million and a full no-movement clause for the first seven years, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

Necas was scheduled for unrestricted free agency next summer. Colorado acquired him from the Carolina Hurricanes in last season's blockbuster trade involving Mikko Rantanen. The Avalanche cited a lack of depth as one of the reasons for the swap. Rantanen ultimately signed an eight-year deal worth $12 million per season with the Dallas Stars, who scooped him from Carolina before March's trade deadline.

Necas notched 28 points in 30 games with the Avalanche last season and has 13 points across 11 contests in 2025-26. He typically slots on the right wing of Colorado's top line alongside Nathan MacKinnon.

When Necas' new deal kicks in, he'll be Colorado's second-highest paid player behind MacKinnon's $12.6-million cap hit. However, reigning Norris Trophy winner Cale Makar, who will be eligible for an extension starting July 1, could take the top spot on the Avalanche's hierarchy in 2027-28.

The Avalanche are off to a 6-1-4 start this season and lead the league with 41 goals for. They're coming off a first-round playoff exit this spring and have only one series win since claiming the Stanley Cup in 2022.