The Carolina Hurricanes are not looking to move Martin Necas just for the hell of it.
According to Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman on his 32 Thoughts podcast, the Hurricanes are looking for legitimates star power in any potential Necas trade
"Carolina is letting people know that they consider Necas a budding star and that's the kind of return they want," Friedman said. "Star power is what they want in return."
And it makes sense why they would be asking for that much.
Necas, 25, is terrific offensive talent who had 20+ goals and 50+ points this season primarily with linemates who are well below his own scoring talent and is just two years removed from a 71-point campaign that led Carolina in scoring.
The Czech winger is fast, smart and can play the game at a high level.
He's not being traded for anything less than his own value.
The only reason he's even a trade candidate is because he's potentially unhappy about his role in Carolina, plus his style of play doesn't always line up with the Hurricanes' overall style of play as a team.
They know he's good and aren't just trying to get rid of him.
"They consider Necas a really good player and I think they recognize that just because he may not necessarily be built for offense the way Brind'Amour plays it, they recognize that if he goes somewhere else, where he's allowed to rush the puck a bit more and it's a bit more built into the offense, he's going to go to another level and that's the way they see a trade," Friedman said.
And it's important for fans of other teams, who are out there armchair GMing right now, to heed this part of Friedman's report as well:
"Not a middling pick and a B-prospect or a first-rounder and a decent prospect," Friedman said. "That's not going to do it."
It's also important to remember that the Canes don't have to move Necas. He's an RFA under team control.
"Carolina is indicating that they are prepared to go ahead with Necas next year," Friedman said. "I'm not sure Necas is thrilled with that idea, but this is the joust that you go through now. But Carolina is letting people know that this is not a middling picks and prospects trade.
So whether Necas stays or goes, the Hurricanes can be pretty confident that they'll have a pretty good player on the roster regardless.
