The Carolina Hurricanes have agreed to a two-year, $13 million deal with forward Martin Necas, keeping one of its most skilled offensive players through the 2025-26 season.

The team announced the deal Monday, providing some roster certainty for the 25-year-old Czech who had been discussed as a trade candidate since the close of Carolina's sixth straight playoff season.

“Martin is an immensely skilled player who provides a scoring threat whenever the puck is on his stick,” new general manager Eric Tulsky said in a statement. “He will play a key role in the continued success of our franchise, and we’re excited to have a multi-year contract done.”

That wasn't a sure thing for Necas, a first-round pick by Carolina in 2017 who has played with the franchise for his entire career. He was a restricted free agent heading to arbitration and there had been a report out of Europe in which Necas' father said his son would prefer to be traded.

Yet a trade never materialized for Necas to head elsewhere.

Necas had 24 goals and 29 assists in 77 games last year, which had followed a breakout 2022-23 season with 28 goals and 43 assists for a team-best 71 points in in 82 regular-season games. He scored four goals in 11 postseason games last season, with the Hurricanes losing to the Presidents' Trophy-winning New York Rangers in the second round.

Necas' nine overtime goals since the 2020-21 season rank tied for the NHL lead in that span.

His future had been one of the key questions hanging over the Hurricanes in what has been an offseason of major change. Tulsky took over as GM when Don Waddell left for Columbus; while big names like trade-deadline acquisition Jake Guentzel at forward, and defensemen Brady Skjei and Brett Pesce departed in free agency.

Carolina has been in talks for a deal with another one of its young forwards in Seth Jarvis. The 22-year-old is a restricted free agent who has become a proven contributor, including scoring 33 goals this season and 13 playoff goals in his first three seasons.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Aaron Beard, The Associated Press