Martin Necas has climbed into rare company.
On Sunday, NHL Network’s Jamison Coyle, E.J. Hradek, and Mike Rupp unveiled their list of the NHL’s top 20 wingers, and the Colorado Avalanche forward came in at No. 15 after a career year that put him firmly on the league’s radar.
The ranking took into account what players did in the 2025-26 regular season and Stanley Cup Playoffs, while also considering where their game is headed next. Necas, 27, checked both boxes.
He posted a career-high 100 points in the regular season, then added one goal and 13 points in 13 playoff games. He’s also about to start an eight-year contract this season and will do it alongside Nathan MacKinnon.
Necas landed between Florida Panthers forward Sam Reinhart at No. 14 and Tampa Bay Lightning winger Jake Guentzel at No. 16. He also finished tied for second among NHL wingers in scoring during the 2025-26 regular season.
During the broadcast, Rupp singled out the speed that makes Necas such a tough cover. “He has great size, skates like the absolute wind, he can fly out there.”
At the top of the list was Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov. The reigning Hart Trophy winner has also won three Art Ross Trophies, two Ted Lindsay Awards, and claimed his first Hart Trophy in 2018-19.
Former Avalanche winger Mikko Rantanen also made the cut, coming in at No. 5 after his first full season with the Dallas Stars. He was one spot behind Vegas Golden Knights winger Mitch Marner. Boston’s David Pastrnak and Minnesota’s Kirill Kaprizov rounded out the top three behind Kucherov.
NHL Network’s Top 20 Wings Right Now: Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning
David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins
Kirill Kaprizov, Minnesota Wild
Mitch Marner, Vegas Golden Knights
Mikko Rantanen, Dallas Stars
Matt Boldy, Minnesota Wild
Jason Robertson, Dallas Stars
Matthew Tkachuk, Florida Panthers
Cole Caufield, Montreal Canadiens
William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs
Kyle Connor, Winnipeg Jets
Artemi Panarin, Los Angeles Kings
Brandon Hagel, Tampa Bay Lightning
Sam Reinhart, Florida Panthers
Martin Necas, Colorado Avalanche
Jake Guentzel, Tampa Bay Lightning
Clayton Keller, Utah Mammoth
Brady Tkachuk, Florida Panthers
Cutter Gauthier, Anaheim Ducks
Lucas Raymond, Detroit Red Wings
In Other News...
Avalanche Fans Cant Ignore This Rantanen Trade Debate Anymore
The Avalanches decision to move Mikko Rantanen to Carolina still hangs over the franchise because it came down to contract-extension disagreements, not a lack of belief in his talent. Colorado got Martin Necas and Jack Drury back in the deal, then later sent Drury to Nashville, leaving Necas as the main on-ice piece tied to one of the biggest roster swings the team has made in years.
Necas gave Colorado a strong regular season, but his playoff struggles have only sharpened the comparison to Rantanen, who had already built a strong postseason rsum in Denver. For Avalanche fans, the debate is no longer about whether the trade happened, but whether the return can ever make up for losing a winger who was built for the spring spotlight. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Face Looming Conflict As Quebec Eyes NHL Return
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For the Avalanche, the larger issue is what a renewed Quebec bid would mean for the leagues map and its identity in Canada. The NHL is currently operating with 33 teams after the Arizona Coyotes franchise was deactivated, so any move to add clubs would reshape the balance of the league and revive a long-running conversation about where hockey should grow next. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche May Have Found Another Goalie Prospect Worth Watching
Nikita Novosyolov has quickly become a name worth tracking in the Avalanche system. The 22-year-old goalie spent the past two seasons with Gornyak in the VHL, where his strong results helped put him on Colorados radar, and he also got a close-up look at the organization during development camp. For a team that always has an eye on its next wave of talent, adding a promising netminder is a useful bit of business.
Colorado moved to bring him in on June 1, 2026, and the next step should give the club a clearer read on how far he can go. Novosyolov is expected to open the 2026-27 season with the Avalanches ECHL affiliate in New Mexico, where the adjustment to North American pro hockey will be part of the test. Goaltenders can take a while to sort themselves out, but if he keeps trending the way he has, this could be the start of a longer conversation. [Read more 🡒]