[COL, CAR, CHI] Rantanen-Hall to CAR, Necas-Drury-25 2nd-26 4th to COL, Chi 25 3rd to Chi (Ret 50% on Mikko)

[expatriatedtexan]

I try not to judge

Bet I make it pretty difficult, huh?

 

[SaltySkywalker]

I would have thought 9.6M for a second contract was a retirement contract... but then again, I'm a guy that can actually cook for one for a month on less $75.

delete

 

[a mangy Meowth]

delete

 

[forsbergavs32]

delete

No, you both delete

 

[famicommander]

Necas: 8 goals and 14 assists for 22 points in 23 games
Drury: 4 goals and 1 assist for 5 points in 23 games

Rantanen: 4 goals and 7 assists for 11 points in 21 games
-2 goals and 4 assists for 6 points in 13 games with Carolina
-2 goals and 3 assists for 5 points in 8 games with Dallas

 

[Flanagan]

I was wondering how Necas' scoring compares to other Avs mid-season acquisitions. Looks like he has tied Nicolas Aube-Kubel for 6th place in team history! Elite company.

Player	Season	From	Pts w/ COL
Sandis Ozolinsh	1995-96	SJS	50
Keith Jones	1996-97	WSH	43
Steve Konowalchuk	2003-04	WSH	39
Max Talbot	2013-14	PHI	25
Theo Fleury	1998-99	CGY	24
Martin Necas	2024-25	CAR	22
Nicolas Aube-Kubel	2021-22	PHI	22
Tomas Fleischmann	2010-11	WSH	21
Peter Mueller	2009-10	PHX	20
Mike Keane	1995-96	MTL	20
Sam Girard	2017-18	NSH	20

​

 

[RoyIsALegend]

It's absolutely insane that Mikko freakin' Rantanen has scored as many goals as 4th line center Jack Drury since the trade was made.

Rantanen has 4 goals since January 9th. That's 2.5 months. Crazy.

 

[Hesher]

One thing I love about Nečas is that he doesn't need ages to develop some chemistry with his center. He fit in right away next to MacK and he looks good next to Nelson as well.

 

[redandyellowcametobe]

It's absolutely insane that Mikko freakin' Rantanen has scored as many goals as 4th line center Jack Drury since the trade was made.

Rantanen has 4 goals since January 9th. That's 2.5 months. Crazy.

I don’t expect that to continue obviously because of Mikko’s pure talent level, but I’d honestly be surprised if he is over a PPG player from here on out. Maybe he finds chemistry with a line driver in Dallas that does most of the work (Duchene)?

It’s still wild to me that Cmac had been shopping him since last summer. A lot of us were in the probably have to trade Mikko to extend the window but it’s risky. Little did we know, Cmac had the stones to do it mid season like that. After completely overhauling the goalie tandem.

I can’t remember a GM with the amount of guts as Cmac this year. It’s wild. It’ll be even wilder if it works out.

 

[flyfysher]

One thing I love about Nečas is that he doesn't need ages to develop some chemistry with his center. He fit in right away next to MacK and he looks good next to Nelson as well.

Match skillset with motivation and watch them all take off. I’m absolutely thrilled with the Avs’ acquisitions.

 

[Tommy Shelby]

I don’t expect that to continue obviously because of Mikko’s pure talent level, but I’d honestly be surprised if he is over a PPG player from here on out. Maybe he finds chemistry with a line driver in Dallas that does most of the work (Duchene)?

It’s still wild to me that Cmac had been shopping him since last summer. A lot of us were in the probably have to trade Mikko to extend the window but it’s risky. Little did we know, Cmac had the stones to do it mid season like that. After completely overhauling the goalie tandem.

I can’t remember a GM with the amount of guts as Cmac this year. It’s wild. It’ll be even wilder if it works out.

If we are lucky enough for it to work out, we'll be in for a very exciting following year, with all the copycat GMs wheeling and dealing

 

[Bender]

He has relied on Nate for the last two years for his point production. This was not the case before 2023. I do believe that he can and will probably focus more on the offseason and tries to adapt his game, now that he has to once again do more work to get his cookies.

Maybe but then again now that he's got his contract - maybe he just won't have that 'extra motivation' to get there.

I mean, what were the reasons for him to NOT focus on the offseason the past 2 years???

There are A LOT of examples of players who got their UFA money (that's essentially what this was) and just never look as motivated as they once were.

 

[shadow1]

I was going to wait until the minutes matched up, but seems like Necas is going to be on the Nelson line for the foreseeable future.

	TOI	CF%	SF%	GF%	xGF%
Lehk-MacK-Rantanen	270:25	57.4%	59.2% (167/115)	55.6% (15/12)	55.5%
Lehk-MacK-Necas	209:28	64.6%	64.1% (134/75)	76.4% (13/4)	66.7%

Necas's offense is a slight tick down from what he was doing in Carolina, but his play driving and puck possession is so much better than the current version of Mikko that the numbers speak for themselves.

There are other factors in play (half a dozen other trades), but the numbers are stark:

	GP	Rec	P%	GF/GP	GF/60 5v5	xGF/60 5v5	PP%
Pre-Trade	49	28-19-2	.592 (12th)	3.29 (8th)	2.43 (14th)	2.42 (21st)	20.4% (20th)
Post-Trade	23	16-6-1	.717 (3rd)	3.52 (3rd)	2.54 (14th)	2.75 (9th)	36.7% (2nd)

 

[flyfysher]

Maybe but then again now that he's got his contract - maybe he just won't have that 'extra motivation' to get there.

I mean, what were the reasons for him to NOT focus on the offseason the past 2 years???

There are A LOT of examples of players who got their UFA money (that's essentially what this was) and just never look as motivated as they once were.

Rants already won his SC and could rest on his laurels. Mack, Makar, Nuke and Landy - More, more! Give us more! That was the difference.

FTR, I think he is at least a PPG player. As for motivation, no one likes to be subjected to mass scrutiny, criticism and public embarrassment. After all, where’s he gonna hide for the next 8 years? Rants has plenty of motivation to come out better. Whether he can thrive with the Stars is the question.

 

[RoyIsALegend]

Rants already won his SC and could rest on his laurels. Mack, Makar, Nuke and Landy - More, more! Give us more! That was the difference.

FTR, I think he is at least a PPG player. As for motivation, no one likes to be subjected to mass scrutiny, criticism and public embarrassment. After all, where’s he gonna hide for the next 8 years? Rants has plenty of motivation to come out better. Whether he can thrive with the Stars is the question.

I’m not sure if we ever want to hear Nuke chanting “more, more, give me more!”

 

[Alienblood]

It's absolutely insane that Mikko freakin' Rantanen has scored as many goals as 4th line center Jack Drury since the trade was made.

Rantanen has 4 goals since January 9th. That's 2.5 months. Crazy.

He's sinking faster than the Titanic.

 

[AvBuff]

I don’t expect that to continue obviously because of Mikko’s pure talent level, but I’d honestly be surprised if he is over a PPG player from here on out. Maybe he finds chemistry with a line driver in Dallas that does most of the work (Duchene)?

It’s still wild to me that Cmac had been shopping him since last summer. A lot of us were in the probably have to trade Mikko to extend the window but it’s risky. Little did we know, Cmac had the stones to do it mid season like that. After completely overhauling the goalie tandem.

I can’t remember a GM with the amount of guts as Cmac this year. It’s wild. It’ll be even wilder if it works out.

And it goes beyond shopping Mikko. I have read that CMac and Sakic had been coveting Marty Necas for months and was simply waiting for the 'Canes to offer him up in exchange. Once Carolina threw Necas into the deal, game over. And so far, it's working beyond expectations - by not resigning Mikko, we get Necas, Drury and the cap space to sign Nelson and Lindgren.

That's next level cap era roster management - I don't care what Bissonnette says.

 

[RoyIsALegend]

And it goes beyond shopping Mikko. I have read that CMac and Sakic had been coveting Marty Necas for months and was simply waiting for the 'Canes to offer him up in exchange. Once Carolina threw Necas into the deal, game over. And so far, it's working beyond expectations - by not resigning Mikko, we get Necas, Drury and the cap space to sign Nelson and Lindgren.

That's next level cap era roster management - I don't care what Bissonnette says.

CMac targeting Necas for a while now is probably the best example of a player he identified that would seamlessly fit Bednar's style. Speed, zone entry, rush play, etc. Necas is meant for Avalanche hockey.

 

[flyfysher]

CMac targeting Necas for a while now is probably the best example of a player he identified that would seamlessly fit Bednar's style. Speed, zone entry, rush play, etc. Necas is meant for Avalanche hockey.

OT, how do you feel about JB? Sometimes I think he’s the greatest coach. Other times, some of his moves are head scratchers. But when people talk about replacing him then the question is what kind of system will the next coach bring? I like puck possession, transition, 2 way play, skilled hockey with speed. It’s not just speed either. These guys think/play at a quicker pace too. I want to continue with that.

 

[RoyIsALegend]

OT, how do you feel about JB? Sometimes I think he’s the greatest coach. Other times, some of his moves are head scratchers. But when people talk about replacing him then the question is what kind of system will the next coach bring? I like puck possession, transition, 2 way play, skilled hockey with speed. It’s not just speed either. These guys think/play at a quicker pace too. I want to continue with that.

He's a good coach, I've never denied that.

If we go out in the first or second round, he needs to be let go. Team will need a new voice.

 

[HockeyFan100]

I was wondering how Necas' scoring compares to other Avs mid-season acquisitions. Looks like he has tied Nicolas Aube-Kubel for 6th place in team history! Elite company.

Player	Season	From	Pts w/ COL
Sandis Ozolinsh	1995-96	SJS	50
Keith Jones	1996-97	WSH	43
Steve Konowalchuk	2003-04	WSH	39
Max Talbot	2013-14	PHI	25
Theo Fleury	1998-99	CGY	24
Martin Necas	2024-25	CAR	22
Nicolas Aube-Kubel	2021-22	PHI	22
Tomas Fleischmann	2010-11	WSH	21
Peter Mueller	2009-10	PHX	20
Mike Keane	1995-96	MTL	20
Sam Girard	2017-18	NSH	20

​

Wow Fleischmann. He was so good. Sucks he got blood clots

 

[Freaky Styley]

I don’t expect that to continue obviously because of Mikko’s pure talent level, but I’d honestly be surprised if he is over a PPG player from here on out. Maybe he finds chemistry with a line driver in Dallas that does most of the work (Duchene)?

IMO they should try him with Johnston. Hintz-Robertson already have chemistry and Johnston is there long-term like Mikko.

He's a player that can do a lot of the dirty work and get the puck to Mikko in good spots.

 

[Pokecheque]

He's a good coach, I've never denied that.

If we go out in the first or second round, he needs to be let go. Team will need a new voice.

Agreed. First round it's a moot point--he'll be gone no question.

Second round? I could see him staying, though I think at that point it might finally be time. Just get it right though, don't bring in some old-school stooge who wants to employ a trap. I can't imagine they would but this is also the organization who thought a Tony Granato with near-zero experience could be the head coach of a team with Stanley Cup aspirations.

 

[LTCPain75]

I was going to wait until the minutes matched up, but seems like Necas is going to be on the Nelson line for the foreseeable future.

	TOI	CF%	SF%	GF%	xGF%
Lehk-MacK-Rantanen	270:25	57.4%	59.2% (167/115)	55.6% (15/12)	55.5%
Lehk-MacK-Necas	209:28	64.6%	64.1% (134/75)	76.4% (13/4)	66.7%

Necas's offense is a slight tick down from what he was doing in Carolina, but his play driving and puck possession is so much better than the current version of Mikko that the numbers speak for themselves.

There are other factors in play (half a dozen other trades), but the numbers are stark:

	GP	Rec	P%	GF/GP	GF/60 5v5	xGF/60 5v5	PP%
Pre-Trade	49	28-19-2	.592 (12th)	3.29 (8th)	2.43 (14th)	2.42 (21st)	20.4% (20th)
Post-Trade	23	16-6-1	.717 (3rd)	3.52 (3rd)	2.54 (14th)	2.75 (9th)	36.7% (2nd)

Exactly! Necas drives play for the second line with speed. I don't remember Mikko doing this.

 

[Pokecheque]

Wow Fleischmann. He was so good. Sucks he got blood clots

The ONE GUY who had perfect chemistry with Matt Duchene. Oh well.