October 29, 2025 | 1:37pm ET
TheFourthPeriod.com

AVALANCHE, NECAS CONTINUE CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS

Martin Necas, forward

The Colorado Avalanche remain in ongoing contract discussions with Martin Necas and his camp over a long-term extension, but a move is not yet considered imminent.

During Tuesday’s edition of “Insider Trading” on TSN, Pierre LeBrun acknowledged that talks are continuing, but noted that there remains a “gap in talks.”

With Colorado understanding it has a big, mega contract on the horizon going to superstar defenceman Cale Makar – who is not eligible to sign an extension until July 1, 2026 and that deal will not apply to the team’s salary cap starting the 2027-28 season – Avs GM Chris MacFarland is hoping to get Necas locked into a deal that fits the club’s internal direction.

“The Avs in talks with Necas’ agent have said ‘Listen, there’s an ecosystem here and we’re going to have to sign Cale Makar to a healthy raise next summer and MacKinnon makes $12.6 million,’ so where does that leave Martin Necas,” LeBrun said.

“The Avs are confident they can get Necas extended at some point, but that part of the conversation has created a bit of a gap in talks. I think they can overcome it, but it’s certainly something that is real in those conversations.”

Necas, who has collected seven goals and six assists for 13 points in 11 games with the Avalanche so far this season, will likely see his next salary climb north of $10 million per season. How high that figure goes depends on his continued performance and Colorado’s desire to pay him top dollar.

LeBrun also noted “there’s a lot of pressure on Colorado to sign Martin Necas,” because they acquired him in a trade for star Mikko Rantanen after they were not willing to meet his contract demands.