The Calgary Flames may not have made noise in free agency, but their offseason has still moved fast - and the biggest piece so far is defenseman Simon Nemec.
Nemec, the former No. 2 overall pick in the NHL Draft, arrived with a reputation as a player whose growth may have been held back by limited opportunity with the New Jersey Devils. He has not played a game for Calgary yet, but there is already reported interest from both sides in locking up a long-term extension.
That’s where the real conversation starts. Young defensemen have been setting the market, and Brandt Clarke and Pavel Mintyukov each landed five-year deals worth more than $7 million per season. That gives Nemec a clear starting point, and NHL Insider Frank Seravalli has suggested the number could climb to $8 million per season on a long-term contract.
The case for that price tag is rooted in what Nemec has already shown. He put up 11 goals and 26 points in 68 games last season while playing in a very limited role, and if he takes another step, that kind of money starts to look a lot more reasonable.
DSB Hockey on X added another layer to the story, reporting that a deal would likely need to run five or seven years and could land somewhere between $7.5 million and $8.5 million per season. The post also indicated there is a mutual push to get something done soon, with a possible agreement as early as this week.
At this point, the floor seems clear: this won’t be a bargain deal. The expectation is that Calgary and Nemec will end up somewhere in the $8 million range, or possibly $8.5 million, if the long-term extension comes together.
And while the final verdict on that contract will take time, the Flames’ future on the blue line already looks promising with Kevin Bahl, Simon Nemec, Carson Carels and Zayne Parekh forming what could be a strong top-four down the road.
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Calgarys interest was built on more than numbers, with the organization pointing to his work ethic, leadership and overall approach as reasons he fit their plans. Castagna, for his part, has spoken with real appreciation about his time at Cornell and a humble mindset as he starts the pro climb, which is part of what makes him such an intriguing addition for a team that has been looking to add dependable pieces with some upside. [Read more 🡒]