Colorado eyes Martin Necas' electric Olympics output to supercharge their lineup post-break, with Jared Bednar plotting his integration. The Czech wizard dazzled internationally, and Avalanche execs salivate over how that form plugs into their Cup chase. Necas steps in amid high stakes, where Olympic heat either forges contenders or fizzles fast.

Martin Necas sits in a tough spot with the Avalanche as the trade deadline looms, and front offices around the league whisper about potential landing spots like the Leafs or Rangers. Scouts I've talked to say Colorado risks losing him for nothing if they let him walk into free agency, echoing the Rantanen saga that still stings. With his Olympics fresh behind him and no extension in sight, GMs are circling to see if the Avs pull the trigger before the roster freeze lifts.

Jordan Binnington channels his inner gamer to stonewall Martin Necas on a breakaway and deliver massive stops that keep Canada's gold dreams breathing in a heart-stopping overtime win over Czechia. While his St. Louis Blues struggle near the bottom of the West with his save percentage dipping below .900 this season, Binner elevates his game under the Olympic spotlight, outdueling Czech netminder Lukas Dostal just like he did at the 4 Nations Face-Off.

Martin Necas channels his Avalanche top-line fire to deliver a goal and assist in Czechia's nail-biting 3-2 qualification win over Denmark, punching their ticket to a quarterfinal rematch with Canada. The guy who's lighting it up with three goals in three straight sets a Czech Olympic record while carrying seven points through four games. Now he eyes redemption against his own teammates like MacKinnon and Makar, where every shift could rewrite the narrative on that bold January trade.

Sidney Crosby's lower-body injury in Canada's dramatic overtime quarterfinal win over Czechia has Penguins fans and league execs holding their breath, with MRI results pending ahead of Friday's semis against Finland. Coach Jon Cooper insists the captain remains in the mix and even rallied the troops from the locker room, but those brutal hits from Radko Gudas and Martin Necas exposed the brutal risks of letting NHL stars chase Olympic gold.

In the heat of the Olympic quarterfinals against Canada, Czechia wires home Ondrej Palat's third goal of the game on what sure looks like an odd-man rush fueled by an extra skater nobody called. Replays and viral photos make it crystal clear: six Czechs clogging the defensive zone when Tomas Hertl blocks Thomas Harley's shot and springs Martin Necas free, leaving Canada's backcheck scrambling against numbers they shouldn't have faced.