RALEIGH, NC - Ron Francis, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the National Hockey League's Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has returned forward Martin Necas to HC Kometa Brno of the Czech Extraliga, the top professional league in the Czech Republic.

Carolina's first-round selection, 12th overall, at the 2017 NHL Draft, Necas, 18, appeared in one regular-season game for the Hurricanes this season, making his NHL debut on Oct. 17 against Edmonton. The Nove Mesto na Morave, Czech Republic, native notched seven goals and earned eight assists (15 points) in 41 regular-season games with Brno in 2016-17, ranking third on the team with three power-play goals. He scored four goals in 10 playoff games as Brno won the league championship.

In international play, Necas (6'1", 178 lbs.) represented the Czech Republic at the 2017 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Junior Championship, notching three points (1g, 2a) in five games. He captained his home country's team to its first gold medal at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup in August 2016, scoring two goals and earning four assists in four tournament games. He also earned three assists in the 2017 IIHF World Under-18 Championship.