Overview
- Reports say the New Jersey Devils sent Simon Nemec and Maxim Tsyplakov to the Calgary Flames in a deal reported by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
- Calgary gave up the Vegas Golden Knights 2027 first-round pick and the Colorado Avalanche 2028 first-round pick, both with top-10 protection, plus prospect Etienne Morin.
- Nemec is a 22-year-old Slovak right-shot defenseman who was the No. 2 overall pick in 2022 and had a career-high 11 goals and 26 points in 68 games in 2025–26.
- The top-10 protections mean the traded picks will likely convey late in the first round if they transfer, which analysts say reduces their immediate market value to New Jersey.
- The move fits Calgary’s pattern of converting veteran assets into youth and gives the Flames a young, high-upside blueliner while the Devils gain draft capital and a prospect to bolster their pipeline.