There is so much truth in the old adage that sometimes the best deals are the ones you don’t make.

I present to you the most recent and most relevant example: Martin Nécas.

Holy mother.

Near the top of NHL goal race with 30 points (11 goals) in 17 games and a streak of 13 consecutive games with at least one point, the 25-year-old Carolina Hurricanes forward is one of the spectacular stories of the NHL season so far.

So yes, despite a trade request after last season and serious trade talks, Hurricanes GM Eric Tulsky’s ability to handle all of that and keep Necas around – signing him to a two-year contract years on a $6.5 million salary – is proving to be one of the most prescient decisions of the NHL offseason.

“We looked at a lot of things with a lot of (trade) options to consider, nothing got to where it made sense,” the Hurricanes general manager said. Athletics in an interview Monday. “We know he had that kind of upside, so part of the conversation was always he had two more years of RFA, and let’s see if he hits (his) upside before we think about other options .”

And that obviously made sense, but it also requires the player to change his mind and re-sign. Which he finally did on July 29, signing that two-year deal and avoiding salary arbitration (he will be eligible for unrestricted free agency in July 2026).

But let’s make no mistake here, this thing could have gone many different ways. My understanding is that 28 NHL teams have contacted Carolina about Necas, with varying degrees of interest.

THE Jets were a serious bidder, of course. I was told Necas could have signed short term in Winnipeg, but not long term, and that killed the trade. THE Blue jackets and Canes talked about a trade during the draft in Vegas – not surprising given that former Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell now runs things in Columbus and knows the player well – but this deal, which revolved around pick No. 4, also fizzled. Montreal was in it. Torontotoo, but it didn’t go far. And in the end, Necas stayed behind.

Phew.

And because Necas had requested arbitration, the Canes were confident things would work out either way.

“It was never a question of whether we could get him into camp (because he filed for arbitration),” Tulsky said. “The only question was whether there was another option that would wow us. And nothing happened. So we’re happy to have him back and we’re happy to see his season going the way it is.

Has a trade ever come close?

“We had some serious offers, but nothing that we were nervous about,” Tulsky said.

Necas’ frustration at the end of last season was his role. He was a third-line player in the playoffs and wanted bigger opportunities. He got it this year and he’s thriving in a top-six role.

The whole situation was a hot potato for Tulsky to deal with after replacing Waddell as general manager. And it’s not like it’s the only thing on his plate. The new general manager also had to deal with a high-profile negotiation with the ongoing UFA. Jake Guentzelwhich ultimately didn’t work out his way, in addition to losing the four best defenders Brady Skjei And Brett Pesce in free agency. And then you have to scramble and fill in all those holes.

It’s a lot to handle for a first-time general manager.

Offseason additions included Jack Roslovic (nine goals so far), William Carrier, Eric Robinson And Tyson Jost at the front, more Sean Walker And Shayne Gostisbéhere (13 points in 17 games) on the blue line.

The concern for any team with so many new faces is how they will fit in and how long it will take. On Monday, the Canes woke up with the second-best points percentage in the NHL (.765).

“When you have five, six or seven new players, you probably have to assume that one, two or three of them are going to come in and not be quite what you were hoping for or fit in quite like you hoped for it,” Tulsky said. . “But our pro scouting team did a great job of really focusing on who would be able to play the way we wanted – and who would look better here than on another team.

“And every player who has arrived is just in good shape.”

The off-season departures didn’t just include players. Waddell left a huge void in the organization when his contract expired and he decided it was time to move on. His imprints on the Canes organization are still felt, both on the hockey side and on the business side.

“It’s a huge loss,” Tulsky said. “He ran both the hockey side and the business side and every employee reported to him, which meant that every employee in the organization had to deal with a change – a transition to worry about. On the hockey side, everything went very well. This has also been positive from a business perspective.

The Canes hired Doug Warf as the new team president and Brian Fork as CEO to replace Waddell on the business side.

On the ice, Tulsky does not take the lead. He’s pleased with the 13-4-0 start but knows it’s a marathon, not a sprint.

“Right now, everything is working and it feels good,” Tulsky said. “We also need to be prepared that there will sometimes be periods of scarcity during the year. We’re not going to win 13 of 17 all year. That’s just not how the league works.

“I’m happy we got off to a good start. It definitely makes things easier, there’s a great atmosphere and everyone has fun. But there will also be difficult times. »

Adversity on the internet seems to be the obstacle to overcome at the moment. Veteran Frederik Andersen is available week to week or longer, and Pyotr Kochetkov returned from injury on Sunday. No. 3 Spencer Martin has already gotten three starts.

“It’s obviously good to have Piotr back,” Tulsky said. “He is an important part of what we do. We have a lot of confidence in him and are convinced that he will be able to help us continue to play as we do. We also have confidence in Spencer to fill in in the meantime if necessary.

“We don’t know how long Freddie is going to be out at the moment. Evaluations are still underway.

Pyotr Kochetkov is 9-2-0 with a .904 save percentage in 2024-25. (Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

I’ve heard from other league sources that Carolina has done some due diligence on the goalie market, but I feel like it’s just that: due diligence just in case Kochetkov would be injured again and Andersen would remain out long term. I feel like Tulsky is simply ready to pivot if necessary before the March 7 deadline.

(I wonder about AnaheimIt is John Gibson as a potential adjustment, if so…)

But for now, the Canes are doing more than well with a Kochetkov-Martin duo.

There’s a different GM in Carolina, but one thing that doesn’t seem to have changed is the willingness to be bold and take a chance if it helps the perennial contender get over the hump.

There were certainly people on the outside looking in at the offseason departures and no longer considered Carolina an elite team. So far, these people have been wrong.

“We lost some very good players, important pieces for the locker room as well,” Tulsky said. “So it’s understandable that people are concerned about how this is playing out. This could have played out in different ways.

“We’ve been fortunate that our scouts have helped us find players who help us stay where we want to be. But there is still a lot of work to be done. »

(Top photo by Martin Necas: James Guillory / USA Today)