Martin Nečas
Nečas in 2018
Born (1999-01-15) 15 January 1999
Nové Město na Moravě, Czech Republic
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 178 lb (81 kg; 12 st 10 lb)
Position Forward
Shoots Right
NHL team
Former teams		 Carolina Hurricanes
HC Kometa Brno
National team  Czech Republic
NHL Draft 12th overall, 2017
Carolina Hurricanes
Playing career 2016–present

Martin Nečas (Czech pronunciation: [ˈmarcɪn ˈnɛtʃas]; born 15 January 1999) is a Czech professional ice hockey centre for the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League (NHL). Nečas made his professional debut with HC Kometa Brno in 2016, and played a prominent role on the team as they won the league championship. Regarded as a top prospect for the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, he was selected 12th overall by the Hurricanes, and made his NHL debut in 2017. Internationally, Nečas plays for the Czech Republic.

Playing career

Junior

In 2012 Nečas participated in the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a youth team from Chomutov.[1] A standout junior player, Nečas led the Czech U-16 league in scoring in 2014–15 with 91 points in 34 games, split between the junior teams of SKLH Žďár nad Sázavou and HC Kometa Brno.[2] His production decreased in 2015–16 due to missing games from injuries and illness, appearing in only 18 games, with 9 goals and 21 assists.[3] He made his professional debut with Brno in 2016, joining the senior team in the Czech Extraliga.

At the conclusion of the Czech Extraliga season and prior to the start of the playoffs for HC Kometa, Nečas was loaned to SK Horácká Slavia Třebíč of the 1st Czech Republic Hockey League, the second level of Czech hockey, for their playoff series, playing in their final game.[4] Nečas appeared in 41 games for Brno during the 2016–17 season, recording 15 points.[5] During the playoffs he scored another 4 goals in 10 games, second best on the team, and helped Brno reach the final. However he was unable to play in the final as he was instead sent to the 2017 IIHF World U18 Championships;[6] Brno ultimately won the championship.[7]

When the NHL Central Scouting Bureau released its mid-term rankings of eligible prospects for the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, Nečas was listed as the fifth best international skater.[8] He maintained this position on the final list released after the conclusion of the regular season.[9] Scouts considered him an undersized forward, but smart and someone who has good offensive instincts and a strong skater.[5] Following his selection by the Hurricanes, 12th overall, Nečas was later signed to a three-year, entry-level contract with Carolina on 15 July 2017.[10]

NHL

Nečas during a game against the Seattle Kraken in 2023.

Initially it was expected that Nečas would not join the Hurricanes immediately, and instead was expected to either return to the Czech Republic, or play for the Hurricanes American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate Charlotte Checkers, or the Saginaw Spirit of the major junior Ontario Hockey League (OHL), who selected him in the Canadian Hockey League Import Draft in 2017.[11] His play at the Hurricanes training camp, where he demonstrated his skill and earned a roster spot. The decision to keep Nečas with the team was aided due both to an injury to veteran Lee Stempniak, and that Nečas could play up to nine regular season games in the NHL before it counted against one year of his contract.[12] Though named to the roster, Nečas was a healthy scratch and only practiced with the team, and his NHL debut came October 17 against the Edmonton Oilers.[13][14] Nečas remained on the Hurricanes roster until 23 October 2017, though did not appear in any more games, when he was returned on loan to continue his development in Brno.[15] Nečas had 17 points in 24 games, leading junior-aged players in scoring, and helped Brno win the Czech Extraliga championship for a second year in a row.[16][17]

Nečas started the 2018–19 season with the Hurricanes in the NHL. On 16 October 2018, he recorded his first NHL goal on a pass from fellow rookie Warren Foegele in a 4–2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.[18] After seven games with the Hurricanes, where he had one goal and one assist, Nečas was assigned to the team's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate.[19]

Considered the top prospect in Carolina's system going into the 2019–20 season, Nečas was named to the team for the start of the season. He would go on to score a power play goal in the season-opening win against the Montreal Canadiens.[20] On 9 August 2022, Nečas was re-signed to a two-year contract extension that will go until the end of the 2023–24 season at an average of $3 million per year.[21]

International play


Nečas at the 2017 World Junior Championships
Medal record
Representing  Czech Republic
Ice hockey
Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament
Gold medal – first place2016 Czech Republic/Slovakia

Nečas first played internationally with the Czech U-17 team at the 2015 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, where he served as captain and recorded five points in five games, leading his team in scoring.[2] He again was captain for the Czechs at the 2016 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, an invitational tournament, where he finished seventh overall in scoring with six points in four games, helping the team win gold.[22][23] He later made his debut in an International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) tournament at the 2017 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, where he had three points for the Czechs. He also participated at the 2017 IIHF World U18 Championships, serving as captain of the Czech team, and had three assists in five games as the Czechs lost in the quarter-finals.[24]

Nečas led the 2018 World Juniors with 8 assists and tied for the scoring lead (with Casey Mittelstadt of the United States) with 11 points, helping the Czechs to a fourth-place finish.[19] He was again named to the senior team for the 2018 IIHF World Championship, finishing with 5 points in 7 games.[16] The Hurricanes lent Nečas to the 2019 World Juniors, where he served as captain of the Czech team.[25]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2013–14 SKLH Žďár nad Sázavou Czech.16 3629295814 —————
2014–15 SKLH Žďár nad Sázavou Czech.16 2524477110 —————
2014–15 Kometa Brno Czech.16 9812204 44592
2014–15 Kometa Brno Czech.18 41234 —————
2015–16 Kometa Brno Czech.18 189213014 10411156
2016–17 Kometa Brno Czech.20 11234 —————
2016–17 Kometa Brno ELH 4178156 104048
2016–17 SK Horácká Slavia Třebíč Czech.1 ————— 10000
2017–18 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 10000 —————
2017–18 Kometa Brno ELH 2498176 144596
2018–19 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 71122 —————
2018–19 Charlotte Checkers AHL 6416365236 1858136
2019–20 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 6416203620 81340
2020–21 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 5314274110 112350
2021–22 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 7814264032 140550
2022–23 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 8228437132 154372
ELH totals 6516163212 24851314
NHL totals 2857311719096 48714212

International

Year Team Event GPGAPtsPIM
2015 Czech Republic U17 54154
2016 Czech Republic IH18 42462
2017 Czech Republic WJC 51232
2017 Czech Republic U18 50334
2018 Czech Republic WJC 738110
2018 Czech Republic WC 73250
2019 Czech Republic WJC 513418
Junior totals 3111213230
Senior totals 73250

Awards and honors

Award Year
ELH
Rookie of the Year 2017
Champion 2017, 2018
Zlatá helma Sencor (MVP) 2018
AHL
Calder Cup champion 2019 [26]

References

  1. ↑ "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  2. 1 2 Willis, Jonathan (5 November 2015). "North America no problem for Czech star Necas". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  3. ↑ Woodlief, Kyle (2 December 2016). "NHL draft 2017: Active month in rankings; biggest surprises in Europe". USAToday.com. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  4. ↑ Hedbávný, Marek (2 March 2017). "Posila pro Třebíč. Proti Slavii jí pomůže Martin Nečas" (in Czech). Hockej.cz. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  5. 1 2 Mahiban, Dhiren (19 June 2017). "Learning from the pros". IIHF.com. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  6. ↑ Sport.sk (13 April 2017). "MS18: Čechom príde na pomoc aj ich vychádzajúca hviezda Nečas" (in Slovak). Sport.aktuality.sk. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  7. ↑ O'Brien, Derek (21 April 2017). "Kometa Brno wins Czech title". IIHF.com. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  8. ↑ Morreale, Mike G. (18 January 2017). "2017 Draft: Nolan Patrick tops midterm rankings". NHL.com. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  9. ↑ NHL (2017). "2017 Draft Prospect Rankings – European Skaters". NHL.com. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  10. ↑ "Hurricanes agree to terms with Martin Necas". NHL.com. 15 July 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  11. ↑ Alexander, Chip (29 June 2017). "Canes' top draft pick takes the ice. How did he look?". The News & Observer. Raleigh, North Carolina. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  12. ↑ Alexander, Chip (3 October 2017). "Young enough for you? Two rookie forwards, D-man on Canes' opening-night roster". The News & Observer. Raleigh, North Carolina. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  13. ↑ Smith, Michael (19 October 2017). "Necas Ready for NHL Debut in Edmonton". NHL.com. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  14. ↑ Alexander, Chip (18 October 2017). "Hurricanes start fast, turn back Oilers 5-3". The News & Observer. Raleigh, North Carolina. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  15. ↑ Wells, Rosie (23 October 2017). "Hurricanes return Necas to HC Kometa Brno". NHL.com. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  16. 1 2 Vickers, Aaron (20 May 2018). "Necas primed for successful future with Hurricanes". NHL.com. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  17. ↑ Alexander, Chip (27 June 2018). "Canes' Necas more polished and confident, ready to be in NHL this season". The News & Observer. Raleigh, North Carolina. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  18. ↑ Long, Corey (16 October 2018). "Johnson scores hat trick in Lightning win against Hurricanes". NHL.com. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  19. 1 2 Kreuz, Julia (19 December 2018). "Hurricanes loan forward Martin Necas to Czech Republic for world juniors". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  20. ↑ "Recap: Canes Top Canadiens in Shootout on Opening Night". NHL.com. 3 October 2019. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  21. ↑ "Canes Re-Sign Necas To Two-Year Contract". NHL.com. 9 August 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  22. ↑ Vavřina, Radoslav (21 September 2016). "Češi na příštím draftu: Překoná Nečas Zachu?" (in Czech). NHL.cz. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  23. ↑ O'Brien, Derek (23 December 2016). "Necas' meteoric rise". WorldJunior2017.com. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  24. ↑ Zatloukal, Tomáš (21 April 2017). "Kapitán Nečas: Měl jsem dát víc gólů, konec ve čtvrtfinále je neúspěch". Mladá fronta DNES (in Czech). Prague. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  25. ↑ Podnieks, Andrew (31 December 2018). "Czechs to quarters after clutch win". IIHF.com. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  26. ↑ "Check and Mate! Charlotte wins Calder Cup". American Hockey League. June 8, 2019. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
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