NHL Blockbuster Trade
New Jersey Devils Trade Šimon Nemec to Calgary Flames for Multiple Protected Draft Picks, Bolstering Future
Key Points
The two first-round picks in the deal are top-10 protected and originate from different teams: a 2027 pick originally belonging to the Vegas Golden Knights and a 2028 pick originally belonging to the Colorado Avalanche.
Nemec's potential cap hit is projected at about $8.06 million on a seven-year contract, a figure New Jersey likely cannot absorb given cap-space constraints and the presence of several defensemen already earning $4 million-plus.
Defensively, Nemec posted notably weak metrics (on-ice 5-on-5 goals against around 3.19 per 60), contributing to questions about his long-term fit despite his offensive upside.
Etienne Morin, the Devils’ part of the return, has yet to reach the NHL, with strong QMJHL numbers but minimal progression in the AHL (7 points in 42 games in 2025-26) after being a Flames prospect.
The trade was framed as a bold move occurring just days before the NHL Draft, signaling New Jersey’s draft-capital reset and Calgary’s bid to bolster its long-term defensive core.
The New Jersey Devils traded defenseman Šimon Nemec and forward Maksim Tsyplakov to the Calgary Flames on June 23 for two top-10 protected first-round picks, a 2026 second-round pick, and prospect Etienne Morin, according to Yahoo Sports. The deal sends away the No. 2 overall pick from 2022 — just 22 years old — in exchange for a haul of future assets centered on Vegas's 2027 first-rounder and Colorado's 2028 first-rounder.
New Jersey GM Sunny Mehta, hired just two months ago, called it a strategic "recalibration" of the team's timeline. Calgary GM Craig Conroy framed it differently: "To get a player of Simon's pedigree and age is rare. He is a centerpiece for our blue line alongside Zayne Parekh," he said, per the Calgary Herald.
Why New Jersey Moved Its Former No. 2 Pick
Nemec posted 26 points in 68 games in 2025–26 — solid, but not enough to justify a projected $8.06 million per year on a seven-year extension, per The Hockey News. His defensive numbers were a bigger problem. He allowed 3.19 goals against per 60 minutes at 5-on-5, landing in the 18th percentile by Goals Above Replacement.
New Jersey's blue line was simply too crowded. Luke Hughes and Dougie Hamilton already command top minutes and top dollars. With Seamus Casey and Anton Silayev pushing for spots, Nemec was stuck in a third-pairing role. He reportedly sought a "fresh start" with top-pairing minutes — and Calgary gave him one, according to Winnipeg Free Press.
Two Protected First-Rounders Anchoring the Deal
The key assets New Jersey gets back are two first-round picks with top-10 protection. The 2027 pick originally belongs to the Vegas Golden Knights. The 2028 pick originally belongs to the Colorado Avalanche. Calgary had acquired both in earlier trades involving veterans Rasmus Andersson and Nazem Kadri, per The Hockey News.
The top-10 protection matters. If Vegas or Colorado picks inside the top 10 in those years, Calgary keeps the pick and sends it a year later. That shifts risk back to New Jersey — if those teams stay good, the picks may land in the 15–25 range. Analysts at The New York Times called it a significant gamble on both sides.
Etienne Morin Rounds Out a Four-Asset Return
Alongside the two first-rounders and a 2026 second-round pick, New Jersey also gets prospect Etienne Morin. The 21-year-old left-shot defenseman shone in the QMJHL but has struggled in the AHL. He posted just 7 points in 42 games and finished at minus-6 in the 2025–26 season, per The New York Times.
Tsyplakov, meanwhile, had just 4 points in 49 games this season at a $2.25 million cap hit. He was mainly a salary add-on to make the deal work. The Devils now project over $13 million in cap space for 2026–27 — critical room for Luke Hughes's expected $9–10 million extension.
Devils Bet on Picks; Flames Bet on Potential
With the NHL Draft just days away on June 26, New Jersey now holds five first-round picks over the next two years, according to Brandon Sun. Mehta is expected to target a top-six center — names like Tynan Lawrence or Maddox Dagenais — at the No. 12 overall pick. Analysts praised the move as smart asset management.
Calgary is making the opposite bet. The Flames are banking on Nemec, now 22, to become a cornerstone alongside Zayne Parekh and Hunter Brzustewicz. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman noted Calgary "overpaid in volume" — but local media called it a sound bet on a blue-chip talent over late lottery picks.
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