Recent trade rumors have suggested the Winnipeg Jets offered Cole Perfetti for Carolina Hurricane forward Martin Necas. However, Scott Billeck of the Winnipeg Suns has emphasized that there’s no truth to the claim, though Carolina did show interest in acquiring Perfetti. Billeck adds that Necas wasn’t interested in signing long-term in Winnipeg, driving a wedge into trade negotiations.
Necas, 25, has since signed a two-year extension that walks him to unrestricted free agency in 2026, giving him a chance to hand-pick where he spends his prime years. Necas has come into form over the last two seasons, posting a collective 52 goals and 124 points in 159 games. He’s developed into a high-energy scorer with the ability to play both wing and center.
Perfetti, 22, offers that same flexibility, though he’s still searching for his footing at the NHL level. He managed 19 goals and 38 points in 71 games this season despite inconsistent, and controversial, ice time. Perfetti looks poised to join Necas’ ranks of top-six goal-scorers over the next few seasons, though the pair’s age disparity makes them tough to evaluate side-by-side.
Other notes from around the league:
- San Jose Sharks prospect Igor Chernyshov shared with Sergey Demidov of Russia’s Responsible Gaming that he’ll likely be moving to the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit after San Jose’s training camp. Chernyshov signed his entry-level contract with the Sharks on Thursday and will move to the CHL with rare pro experience, having played in 39 games with the KHL’s Dynamo Moskva over the last two seasons. He’s scored just five points in those appearances – deceptively low considering the impact he brings shift-to-shift. Chernyshov showed a bit more offense in the MHL – Russia’s U21 junior league – with 66 points in 60 games over the same span. He will now be tasked with finding his footing and rediscovering that production in Saginaw, as he fights to earn a spot among San Jose’s pro ranks.
- The AHL’s Calgary Wranglers have announced the signings of forward Connor Mylymok, defender Charles Martin, and goaltender Connor Murphy. Mylymok and Martin have inked two-year AHL/ECHL contracts, while Murphy re-signs with the Wranglers on a one-way AHL deal. Murphy found his stride after earning an AHL call-up last season, posting a .922 save percentage across 15 games with the Wranglers. With Dustin Wolf set for a promotion to the NHL, Murphy will battle with Devin Cooley and Waltteri Ignatjew for a hardy AHL role. Meanwhile, Mylymok and Martin will continue their pursuit of a call-up from the ECHL.
What is the basis for the comment that Necas has the ability to play center?
Yes, he was drafted as a center but beyond preseason and experimentation in the AHL, I do not recall Necas ever playing center in North America.
Even when Czechia won gold at the World Championships this spring, Necas played on the wing.
@InRodWeTrust — PuckPedia, HockeyReference and HockeyDB all list him as a Center, with EliteProspects showing him as Center/Right Wing. His faceoff numbers on HockeyReference suggest he should almost never be at Center.
I was under the impression that Connor Murphy actually signed a 2 year AHL contract last year. This was a question on our forums, so after quite a bit of research, I actually found a news announcement from last year stating that he did sign a 2 year contract. Now I’m so confused…
@HockeySenseNot — Ever hear this one?
“Matt Murray, meet Matt Murray” (both goalies)
Now we have another pair (sort of)
“Connor Murphy, meet Connor Murphy”
One Murphy is a D-man with the ‘Hawks, the other is the goalie with the Wranglers.
And, on that note, @Gabriel, you might want to change the link for Connor Murphy to EP’s link to eliteprospects.com
I know what your saying, but it was thee Murphy for the Wranglers, not Murphy from Chicago. That was actually a four year contract for a defenceman.
If you actually do some research, you will find announcements from 2023 that states Connor Murphy (goalie) was signed from Union College to a 2 year contract with the Calgary Wranglers. Signed in July of 2023.
link to thejuniorhockeynews.com
“Following a four-year college career that saw him play regularly for first Northeastern University and then Union College, Murphy (a native of Glens Falls, N.Y.) signed with the Wranglers on a two-year contract on July 5.” 2023
There are like 3 write ups at least that state this fact. I am questioning this, because I heard this last year when I was watching him live in Calgary (Wranglers season ticket holder).
Hence….my confusion.