Flames Sign Big Contract with Recently Acquired Defenseman

Calgary landed Nemec, along with forward Maxim Tsyplakov, from the New Jersey Devils in a significant late-June trade, sending back conditional first-round picks in 2027 and 2028, a 2026 second-rounder, and prospect Etienne Morin. Nemec, the second-overall pick in the 2022 draft, had grown frustrated with his role in New Jersey, and the move to Calgary came as new Devils GM Sunny Mehta began reshaping the roster.

The 22-year-old Slovakian defenseman posted a career-high 26 points (11 goals, 15 assists) in 68 games last season, and represented his country at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics. At 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, he profiles as a mobile, offense-first right-shot defenseman — exactly the kind of long-term piece Calgary hoped to add when it took on the sizable draft-pick cost to acquire him.

Locking Nemec up now, before he’s played a full season in a Flames uniform, is a clear bet on upside. If he develops as Calgary expects, he projects as the eventual heir apparent to Rasmus Andersson on the right side, pairing with fellow young defenseman Zayne Parekh to give the Flames a formidable one-two punch on their blue line for years to come.

It’s a swing that comes with real risk given Nemec’s still-developing two-way game and his uneven form during his final season in New Jersey, but locking in a $7.25 million cap hit now, rather than waiting to see his value climb after a breakout year, reflects the kind of proactive term Calgary is choosing to prioritize with its core young pieces.