Colorado Avalanche 2025-26 Player Grades: Martin Necas – The Hockey Writers – Colorado Avalanche

Everyone anticipated that the Colorado Avalanche would still be playing right now. Instead, the Avalanche are still licking their wounds after Game 4 against the Vegas Golden Knights, one of the worst series losses in the history of the franchise.

While there will be a lot of time to look ahead to what the Avalanche might do, especially with new management, we take a look back. In this series, we will review every player’s season and give them a grade. Today, we look at the top winger in Colorado: Martin Necas.

Production

Since arriving in Colorado via trade, the one question was whether Necas could step in and fully replace the departed Mikko Rantanen. Though no one can ever fully replicate what Rantanen brought to the table, Necas got pretty close with his 2025-26 performance.

In 78 games, Necas hit career highs across the board: goals (38), assists (62), and points (100). His incredible +47 shows that he is capable of being defensively responsible as well, though it helps when you thoroughly outscore the opposition. Necas elevated himself offensively from his already impressive level.

Intangibles

This is the area in which Necas and Rantanen greatly differ. Rantanen could take over games on his own, using his huge frame to dominate in the offensive zone and turn the tide. It is part of what made Rantanen so valuable even with accusations that he was only good because of MacKinnon.

Necas’ speed is his biggest asset, and he perhaps fits better playing next to Rantanen. But Necas’ disappearance on the biggest stage is concerning, something that fans and management will no doubt be looking to see more from him.

Overall Grade: A

On the whole, it is hard to criticize Necas. He was an excellent fit next to MacKinnon, his deft playmaking helping the latter win the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy as the NHL’s leading goalscorer for the first time.

Questions about whether Necas could hit the 100-point mark have now been answered and Necas is among the game’s elite wingers. Hitting his prime and riding shotgun with MacKinnon for the foreseeable future, this should be the beginning of an impressive run.

Room to Grow?

There are two big questions regarding Necas. The first is whether he can step up in the playoffs the next time out. He had 13 points in 13 games but just one goal and was all but invisible during the Western Conference Final against Vegas.

Secondly, can he take his game to another level and compete with the big boys for the Art Ross Trophy? He finished seventh in the league in scoring in 2025-26 but will need to take his game up a notch if he is going to compete with his lineup and the other top dogs. On the whole, Necas is a borderline star but still needs to find another gear to his game in order to be truly great.