Avalanche Center Taking the Leap in Breakout Season

What makes the center's breakout season with the Colorado Avalanche special isn't just the numbers; it's the substance behind them that was missing during his time with the Carolina Hurricanes.

Nov 13, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Martin Necas (88) looks on during the third period against the Buffalo Sabres at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images / Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Colorado Avalanche center Martin Necas always had the talent. The skill was never in question during his years with the Carolina Hurricanes, and there were stretches where he'd flash the kind of production that suggested he could be a legitimate top-line player. But something always felt off about it.

The numbers looked good on paper, but they never quite translated into the kind of impact you'd expect from a player putting up those totals. Now with the Avalanche, everything has changed. Necas is producing at a 100-plus point pace, and this time, there's real substance behind it.

Empty Calories No More

The Athletic's Sean Gentille and Dom Luszczyszyn recently broke down players around the league who are taking "the leap" this season, and Necas stood out as a perfect example of a player finally putting it all together. The key distinction they made was about the quality of Necas' production.

In Carolina, his numbers sometimes felt hollow, the kind of empty-calorie offense that pads stats without actually driving winning hockey. In Colorado, that's no longer the case.

"Necas' production in Carolina sometimes felt a bit hollow, but this is no empty-calorie production in Colorado," Gentille wrote.

Playing alongside Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar certainly helps. When you're surrounded by two of the best players in the world, it's easier to find open ice and capitalize on chances. But the analysts made it clear that Necas deserves credit for being more than just a passenger on a dominant line.

"He does have it easy playing with Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, but Necas has still been special in his own right," Gentille wrote.

A Different Kind of Leap

Nov 8, 2025; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Colorado Avalanche forward Martin Necas (88) tries to move the puck past Edmonton Oilers defensemen Mattias Ekholm (14) during the second period at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images / Perry Nelson-Imagn Images

What makes Necas' situation interesting is that discussions about players taking "the leap" are usually reserved for younger players still figuring out the NHL. Necas isn't some 20-year-old prospect breaking through.

He's a veteran who's been in the league for years, and the Avalanche don't have a ton of young players going through that development curve right now. But age doesn't make the leap any less real. Necas has elevated his game in a way that goes beyond just producing points.

He's playing with more purpose, making better decisions, and contributing in ways that actually help Colorado win games. That's the difference between hollow production and the real thing.

Finding the Right Fit

Sometimes a player just needs a change of scenery to unlock what's been there all along. For Necas, landing in Colorado has provided the perfect environment to show what he's truly capable of.

The talent was always there, but now the substance matches the numbers, and the Avalanche are reaping the benefits of a player finally living up to his potential.

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