Photo credit: Jo� Lemay / QMI Agency - Journal de Montreal
Canadiens unable to pursue star forward due to lingering animosity with Canes.
Reports suggest that the Montreal Canadiens are eyeing a trade for Martin Necas from the Carolina Hurricanes, yet their prospects of securing him are bleak, given the longstanding animosity stemming from the Jesperi Kotkaniemi offer sheet saga.
The Montreal Canadiens' pursuit of Carolina Hurricanes forward Martin Necas seems to have hit a formidable roadblock, as reported by Nick Kypreos of the Toronto Star.
"As much as the Habs love [Martin Necas], there seems to be zero chance of a trade with Montreal considering the bad blood over the Jesperi Kotkaniemi offer sheet in 2021." - Nick Kypreos
Feud Reignited
The Canadiens' interest in Necas has been a topic of considerable speculation, yet the longstanding animosity stemming from the offer sheet drama involving Jesperi Kotkaniemi continues to cast a shadow over any potential dealings between Montreal and Carolina.
The roots of this feud trace back nearly five years, to a pivotal moment when the Canadiens, under the helm of Marc Bergevin, tendered an offer sheet to Sebastian Aho, a move that sent shockwaves through the NHL.
Fast forward to the present, with new faces in the front offices�Kent Hughes leading the Canadiens and Eric Tulsky at the helm for the Hurricanes�yet the scars from past wounds remain unhealed.
Now, it remains to be seen whether the Hurricanes will opt to make a move involving Necas or choose to retain him under contract, foregoing any potential trades.