The Calgary Flames have made a major move, acquiring defencemen Simon Nemec and winger Maxim Tsyplakov from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Etienne Morin, a 2027 1st (VGK), 2028 1st (COL) and a 2026 2nd (NYR).
This deal truly came out of left field and caught Flames fans and media by surprise. At first glance, it’s a big move for the Flames.
Trading a pair of 1st round picks, a 2nd and a prospect wasn’t on the to-do list for most of the Flames’ faithful. With that being said, let’s break down Simon Nemec’s game and welcome him to the C of Red!
What Nemec Brings
As mentioned in a previous post, Nemec has a lot of upside. He can be the QB1 on the power play and is smart with the puck.
Nemec is a strong skater who thrives in the offensive zone, similar to his new teammate Zayne Parekh. Nemec is the highest-drafted Slovakian-born defenceman in NHL history, representing Slovakia at the Olympics this past February.
Developing the defensive side of Nemec’s game will be a priority for Flames management this coming season. For the Flames, having a former 2nd overall pick who can move the puck in the system is a nice addition.
Nemec posted 11 goals and 26 points in 68 games played last season with the Devils, as well as averaging 19:40 of ice time per night. He currently sits at 16 goals and 49 points in 155 career games thus far in his young career.
Bet on the Liptovsky Mikulas, Slovakia native to be battling it out with Zayne Parekh for a spot on the top defensive pairing this fall.
Things To Consider
It’s crucial to remember that despite the chaos of the trade, Nemec is an RFA heading into the offseason. Getting him signed to a new contract will be one of Craig Conroy’s main focuses heading into the summer.
Calgary has notably been very successful at developing players, especially defencemen. Keeping them in Cow-Town has been the only hang-up. This could be just the tip of the iceberg for Craig Conroy and Flames management as we head into what should be a busy summer. Overall, this could be a slam dunk for the Flames.
Nemec is another strong addition for a Flames team that’s looking to be competitive in the next couple of years. This is a pretty big swing for Conroy, arguably the biggest since taking over as Flames GM.
The 1st round picks traded to New Jersey were both late 1sts, and with Colorado and Vegas being the powerhouses they are, they’ll most likely stay that way.
Conroy has previously “fleeced” the Devils in both the Jacob Markstrom trade and the Tyler Toffoli trade, and it seems he may have done it again. Only time will tell.
Overall, this isn’t a terrible trade for the Flames despite the “high risk, high reward” aspect.
Trade Grade: A-
