Is Mаrtіn Neсаs' Tіme іn Cаrolіnа Comіng to а Close?

When the clock struck 0:00 and the Carolina Hurricanes were eliminated in Game 6 in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs by the New York Rangers, emotions were running high.

Disappointment, frustration, anger.

All of those feelings were welling up inside the players who had given it their all, yet once again came up short, and especially so being that this group knew things weren't going to be the same next year.

This was the last run for the current core. With so many contract set to expire, they knew that not everyone could come back even if most everyone wants the chance to run it back.

But it may not be the case that everyone even wants to stay.

In an interview given to Denik Sport, a Czech news outlet, Martin Necas' dad claimed that Necas was essentially unhappy with his usage in Carolina.

Through a translation, the main points boiled down to that Necas' dad claimed that Necas wanted to be on the top line and top power play units, where he played his best, and felt like overall he wasn't allowed to play his game and that he would welcome a move because he would be able to on another team.

His father also stated that he felt other players were getting those opportunities due to the amount of money they make and that the team didn't want Necas to have a big season because his deal was expiring.

Obviously not every parent speaks for their child, but with Necas skipping out on exit interviews in order to play with Czechia at the IIHF World Championships and him refusing to speak about his contract situation there as well, we don't have much else to go off of.

While Necas was in fact moved off of the top power play unit, he still had over two minutes of PP time per game, was the team's top option at 4v4 and at 3v3/overtime and even had the most even strength ice time per game amongst forwards.

It's not like he was without opportunity.

But Necas has also always played second fiddle on the Hurricanes.

He never quite had the same adoration and treatment that say Andrei Svechnikov received and this year, his 'spot' on both the top line and first power play was usurped by Seth Jarvis.

When asked about comments made by Necas' dad at their end of year media availabilities, neither general manager Don Waddell nor head coach Rod Brind'Amour seemed at all worried about them though and in fact more so laughed about the whole thing.

"Every parent thinks their kid should be on the power play, by the way," Brind'Amour said. "They just don't have a microphone to announce it. The only five parents that are happy are the guys that get the first crack and they're all, 'Ayy, I love you coach' and the rest all hate the coach because the kids not on the power play. That's okay."

"First, you're telling me something that I don't know because I could care less what everybody says," Waddell said. "Regardless of age with parents, and I love the parents, but I want to talk to parents about their kids not about their contract. We're gonna deal with this one. He's an exceptionally skilled player that has a lot more to give, in my own opinion — Rod might have a different one — but we'll figure out something with him. ... Say hi to his dad for me."

The responses very much felt like two people not only very much done with the situation but also perhaps the player.

All year in fact, whenever Brind'Amour was asked about Necas' season whether things were going good or bad, he never really effused much.

Other guys got praises or sometimes reprimands, but the responses on Necas always felt subdued and subverted.

Obviously there's two ways this situation can go.

Either Necas is traded or he remains with the team.

But even with option two, staying with Carolina isn't so black and white. 

Obviously he and the team could figure something out and sign a longer-term deal. I mean, stranger things have happened, but it's a long shot.

Necas' camp would obviously be looking for a deal over $7 million per year and with the Canes having to figure out how to fill a majority of their roster still, I'm not sure they'd be wanting to pay him that much.

To be fair, I'm not sure they'd offer him that much regardless because while he's got great talent, he's the square peg in the round hole that is the Hurricanes' systems and style of play.

His high-flying, high-risk style of play where he utilizes his skating and puck handling to generate chances, especially in open ice, doesn't really mesh with the Hurricanes' direct, north-south, low-to-high style of play.

They could also go to arbitration which would only render a short-term deal as an arbitrator can only award a one or two-year deal.

Then there's the option that Necas could simply sit out and refuse to sign a deal like William Nylander in 2018.

Obviously that one worked out in the end for Toronto, but Nylander missed two months of the season and if Necas kept up the holdout through Dec. 1, he would be ineligible for the entire season.

Nobody wants that option.

But regardless of what tension there may be, the fact of the matter is that he's a talented player and a valuable piece.

Carolina isn't going to move him just to move him.

"I don't have enough toes and fingers to tell you how many players have walked into my office about being traded," Waddell said in his final presser. "We're not opposed always to trading players, but you also have to look at the value of what you're getting back for players. Marty's an exceptionally skilled guy that you're just not going to give up on, that's for sure. So we'll deal with it as the summer progresses."

There's already been plenty of reported interest in Necas with teams such as Vancouver, Columbus and Montreal being just a few of the names out there, but would they be willing to offer up enough in Carolina's eyes?

Necas has been the centerpiece for two blockbuster trade attempts that the Canes have offered, one for Matthew Tkachuk and another for Elias Pettersson. 

That's the sort of value they see in Necas.

Carolina isn't trading him for some depth pieces, prospects or picks. 

They want high-end talent that can play now because they need someone who could replace his production, i.e. a 20+ goal and 50+ point scorer.

Because again, they don't have to move Necas.

However, all the signs are pointing towards a unfortuante departure from the Hurricanes for Necas and that move may be coming sooner rather than later.