Craig Conroy kicked off the Flames' offseason with a bang on Tuesday, acquiring former second overall pick Simon Nemec from the New Jersey Devils for three draft picks and defenseman Etienne Morin, according to the Calgary Herald's Kent Wilson.
Trade Details and Player Background
The 22-year-old defenseman was considered a blue-chip prospect when the Devils selected him second overall in 2022, after Juraj Slafkovsky. However, his stock has dimmed after a few mediocre seasons in New Jersey. In 155 NHL games, Nemec has recorded 16 goals and 49 points (0.31 points per game), all in a sheltered role.
Over the last two seasons, no regular Devil defender was outshot, outchanced, or outscored at a greater rate at five-on-five than Nemec, despite mostly facing middle-rotation players. This inability to move up the rotation soured his relationship with the team, leading to whispers of a trade request.
Cost and Risk for Calgary
The Flames gave up a substantial package: Vegas' 2027 first-round pick, Colorado's 2028 first-round pick, New York's second-round pick this year, and former second-round defenseman Etienne Morin. The cost would be trivial had Nemec lived up to his draft pedigree, but he hasn't.
Nemec turns 23 in February and gives Calgary an NHL-ready defender immediately, rather than years from now. With Zayne Parekh, Hunter Brzustewicz, and Henry Mews already in the pipeline, the Flames have ample right-handed, offensively oriented defensemen. This trade allows GM Conroy to flip excess draft capital into a high-potential player to fill out Calgary's thin prime-aged cohort.
Contract Negotiation Concerns
If Nemec's rumored ask of a contract similar to Luke Hughes' seven-year, $63 million deal is true, the risk increases substantially. While failing to become an NHL star at 21 isn't disqualifying, demanding to be paid like one is at odds with his performance to date. Nemec is no longer a blue-chip prospect but a reclamation project with years of development runway and oodles of talent. However, there's no guarantee he fulfills that promise, and a $63 million contract could become a millstone if he fails to develop.
