Canucks Corner: Matt's Latest Musings on What's Happening With the Franchise

Necas trade rumours, finding a winger for Pettersson, looking ahead to free agency, injury updates, and more.

From signings, trades, prospects, injury and lineup news, and everything in between, here are my latest musings on the team we all love, cheer on, and get frustrated by on a nightly basis.

Could Martin Necas Be Heading to Vancouver?

That didn’t take long. Only days after the Vancouver Canucks were eliminated from the playoffs by the Edmonton Oilers, trade rumours have started to circulate around the team. The latest has them revisiting a supposed discussion Patrik Allvin had with the Carolina Hurricanes and Martin Necas. At the time, it was rumoured that he was offering Elias Pettersson, but shortly after, he signed a massive extension to stay in Vancouver for the foreseeable future.

Martin Necas, Carolina Hurricanes (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Now, speculation is that the Canucks could trade Filip Hronek for the skilled center/winger and bolster their top-six in the process. Hronek is a pending restricted free agent and it’s been reported that he might be pricing his way out of town. He was a revelation alongside Quinn Hughes this season, but the Canucks also have some key unrestricted free agents to sign (more on that later) in Elias Lindholm, Nikita Zadorov, and Dakota Joshua that they may want to have back more than him.

Necas has had a solid last couple of seasons in the NHL with 52 goals in 159 games, which included a career-high 28 goals and 71 points in 2022-23. He is also a pending RFA, but won’t cost as much as Hronek, and could have another breakout season in 2024-25 possibly on the wing with Pettersson.

If Allvin can trade Hronek for Necas straight up, I would be okay with it. Getting more firepower in the top six should be a priority this offseason, and Necas has a lot of upside being only 25 years old. If he can somehow gain chemistry with Pettersson, the Canucks would be a pretty lethal team next season.