Predators Must Jump at Opportunity to Acquire Necas as it 'Probably Won't Work Out' in Carolina

The Carolina Hurricanes have a ton of questions to answer this offseason after being eliminated in the second round, but what seems likely is the team parting ways with RFA Martin Necas.

As he is still under team control, this could end in a trade this summer before a deal is done. There are going to be many suitors, but the Nashville Predators have to be amongst the leading candidates to acquire a dynamic young player who can play center.

On 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, Elliotte Friedman noted "that one just probably won't work out there. I don't think they're going to do what Necas wants to do." Necas' ice time dropped this season, he believes he's a top line player and power-play guy, and will be asking for a large, long-term contract.

Necas really checks all of the boxes for what the Predators are looking for. They aren't going to find a young center in free agency even though a few good veteran options are available. This is also a generally young team that is planning on injecting more youth into the lineup next season. Necas, being just 25 years old, is young and seemingly at the age where he is entering the prime years of his career at the perfect time Nashville needs someone like that.

What Pieces Nashville Could Use to Acquire Necas

The Predators are just entering their contending window with a new look team and great coaching. Necas was the 12th overall pick in 2017 and won't be cheap to acquire. Fortunately for the Predators, recent trades that reshaped the team have given them a great deal of assets, whether that be draft picks or prospects.

Carolina is in their Stanley Cup contending window, but it may be quickly closing if the right moves aren't made. The team will be looking for players to make an immediate impact and not cost a ton as the money is going to be used on players like Seth Jarvis, Jake Guentzel, Jaccob Slavin, and more.

With the comments made about Philip Tomasino and earning a spot in the NHL in Nashville, he seems like a great starting point in a trade. He is NHL-ready and has a high skill level, but isn't on the same page as the Predators. The Hurricanes have been known to bring in talent like this and see them thrive. Take Tony DeAngelo and Dougie Hamilton for example.

There will have to be much more in a potential trade too. The Predators have nine draft picks in the first four rounds this season. That is going to come in handy. Nashville even has two first-round picks in 2025 and five picks in the first three rounds.

Dante Fabbro could help weather the storm on free agents possibly leaving the Hurricanes this summer as he would fit in where Brett Pesce or DeAngelo were playing on the back-end.

Necas might have taken a step back during the regular season for Carolina with Jarvis improving and Guentzel coming in, but over the past two seasons, Necas has scored 52 goals and 124 points in 159 games. He picked up his play when the games mattered more too, scoring four goals and nine points in 11 playoff games.

The Predators have to improve and a younger player who fits the team's needs well won't come along very often. He is worth the price, whatever it ends up being.

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