Avalanche sign Martin Nečas to eight-year, $92 million extension

The Colorado Avalanche signed forward Martin Nečas to an eight-year, $92 million contract on Thursday, securing the 26-year-old through the 2033-34 season and locking in an average annual value of $11.5 million, the team said. League sources said the deal is frontloaded with roughly $60.4 million in signing bonuses and includes a no-movement clause covering seven of the eight seasons. The new contract takes effect with the 2026-27 campaign.

Nečas, who joined Colorado in a high-profile trade last January, has become a fixture on the Avalanche top line alongside Nathan MacKinnon. He has seven goals and 13 points in 11 games this season and finished last year with career highs, totaling 27 goals and 83 points between Carolina and Colorado. Since the trade, he collected 28 points in 30 games with the Avalanche and is averaging a career-high in ice time under coach Jared Bednar, according to team statistics.

Team officials and league sources said negotiations with Nečas were protracted. Colorado cited the upcoming contract talks for defenseman Cale Makar as a factor in the discussions, while other recent high-value extensions around the league helped reshape market expectations and...