Overview
- The Calgary Flames received 22‑year‑old right‑shot defenseman Simon Nemec and winger Maxim Tsyplakov from the New Jersey Devils in a deal confirmed on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.
- New Jersey obtained Vegas’s 2027 first‑round pick and Colorado’s 2028 first‑round pick, both top‑10 protected, the New York Rangers’ 2026 second‑round pick (35th overall) and defense prospect Etienne Morin.
- Nemec is a former No. 2 overall pick who scored 11 goals and 26 points in 68 games in 2025–26 and becomes a pending restricted free agent when his entry‑level deal expires on July 1.
- Calgary used previously acquired draft capital to fast‑track a rebuild by adding an NHL‑ready young blueliner who should see top‑four minutes, while the Devils’ new GM Sunny Mehta converted a disputed RFA situation into flexible draft assets and prospect depth.
- Both first‑round picks carry top‑10 protections and roll to alternate years under prior trade conditions, so the exact timing and value of the Devils’ incoming picks will depend on future standings and other teams’ pick protections.