The Calgary Flames have made a shocking move. Craig Conroy has traded for a 22-year-old right-shot offensive defenceman, Simon Nemec, from the New Jersey Devils. Alongside Nemec, winger Maxim Tsyplakov is heading to the C of Red. Heading to the Devils is Etienne Morin, the New York Rangers second-round pick this year, Vegas’ 2027 first, and Colorado’s 2028 first – both top-10 protected.
What does this trade mean for the Calgary Flames?
Nemec was the second overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, going after fellow Slovak Juraj Slafkovsky. He hasn’t seen much success at the NHL level, setting career-highs this past season in goals (11), points (26), and games played (68). Currently an RFA, there has been a ton of interest in him, with teams willing to take a bet on a young and promising right-shot defenceman, though it remains to be seen if he can break out in Calgary.
Maxim Tsyplakov is a 27-year-old winger from Moscow who just completed his second NHL season. After scoring 35 points in 77 games with the New York Islanders in his rookie year, Tsyplakov slowed down. Just two points in 27 games with the Islanders to start the year before being sent to the Devils as part of the Ondrej Palat trade. In his remaining 22 games in New Jersey, he scored another two points.
The Flames use some of their excess draft capital as ammunition here and continue their quest to acquire young talent.
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