Will there be a more dynamic forward on the trade market? You’ve got to sign him and he’s close to ufa so that would maybe hurt the return. I think both sides will be happy to move on.
I think this will hurt us but if it has to happen just get it over with. I assume he has arbitration rights and could get a one year deal to walk himself to ufa if we don’t trade him or give him the cash he wants.
Without Necas we’re going to have an interesting second line, especially if Kuzy doesn’t get the job.
Necas was a high draft pick that has produced (5th best out of his draft class), just perhaps not at the level demanded by RBA nor the fan base. Canes are in a more difficult bargaining position but you hate to see a still nicely cost controlled very skilled asset like him traded at a time when the asset is depressed. Teams know that the Canes have a lot of roster upheaval and you can bet they are going to play hard ball (Canes rep of fleecing others doesn't help).
The following may be controversial.....
We celebrate the skill/dexterity of Management in running the draft but the failures of the non-Necas draft picks 2016-2019 have hurt the club more (yeah I know most are Karmonos but Gauthier-Bean, Svetch as a #2 pick should be more productive <Tkachuk-Hughes much better performers to-date>, Suzuki) have all significantly underperformed versus draft position/other available players in the draft).
I also worry that the team's current draft gurus are x-Nikishin selecting small players that will have challenges come playoff time when ref standards change and physicality matters. I've never seen a team made up of a bunch of Smurfs win the Cup.
Oh well, the musings of a disappointed older fan that realizes that opportunities like this year are few and far between. Of course, I'll always have '06.