The Calgary Flames clearly believe Simon Nemec is worth the gamble. They paid a steep price to land the 22-year-old defenceman, and the upside is obvious: a second-overall pick from the 2022 NHL Draft with the kind of mobility, puck sense and offensive instincts that made him one of the top prospects in his class.
Still, anyone expecting Nemec to step in and look like a finished product in 2026-27 is probably setting themselves up for disappointment.
Nemec arrives in Calgary with real promise, but also with a pretty clear history of uneven results. He never fully locked down a stable role with the New Jersey Devils, and even though he spent the entire 2025-26 season on their NHL roster, there were still enough holes in his game to keep him from becoming an every-night impact player. Early in the offseason, there was even a rumour that he had asked for a trade, though his camp denied that not long after.
The Devils’ view was simpler: he hadn’t earned a larger role.
That tension helps explain why the Flames were able to get him, and why they’re willing to be patient. Nemec also signed a five-year, $36.25 million contract shortly after the trade, with a $7.25 million cap hit, which only adds to the buzz around what he might become. But a deal like that is a bet on the future, not proof he’s already arrived.
The offensive side is where the optimism comes from. Nemec’s game is built around moving the puck and joining the attack, and he took a step last season with 11 goals and 26 points in 68 games. That’s progress, but it’s not the kind of production that says he’s already an established difference-maker.
The bigger concern is what happens when the puck isn’t on his stick. Defence has been the area where Nemec has needed the most work, and it’s also the part of his game that has caused the most trouble so far. He was even a healthy scratch at points last season, which is a pretty blunt signal that the Devils didn’t trust him fully in every situation.
Calgary isn’t bringing him in to sit around, though. The Flames invested heavily, and that means opportunities will come.
He averaged less than 20 minutes per game last season, and that number is expected to rise in Calgary. More ice time is what Nemec wants, but it could also put his defensive shortcomings under a brighter spotlight.
And that’s where the 2026-27 season could get bumpy.
With fewer experienced blueliners around to shield him, Nemec may find himself facing tougher matchups and learning on the fly. That won’t necessarily be a bad thing over time, but it does mean the growing pains could be visible this year.
There’s no question about the talent. The Flames think he can grow into a top-pairing defenceman, and if that happens, it would be a huge win for their rebuild.
But for now, the most realistic expectation is not instant stardom. It’s a young, gifted defender still trying to put all the pieces together - and likely hitting a few rough patches along the way.
In Other News...
Connor Zary Has A Real Opening To Change Calgarys Offense
Connor Zary is back in the mix just in time for a camp that could shape the Flames forward picture, and that alone makes him one of the more interesting young players to watch in Calgary. Cleared to participate after a late-season injury issue, he arrives with a chance to show the organization that his skill set can translate into something bigger than the flashes he offered a year ago.
The opportunity is real because the Flames are still looking for more offense in the right places, and Zary has already shown enough to suggest there may be another level there. Last season was useful but not definitive, and camp now gives him a clean runway to press for a larger role if he can stand out among the competition. [Read more 🡒]
Flames Roster Battle Is Taking Shape After First Camp Cuts
The first wave of cuts at Flames camp has begun to clarify the roster picture, with Calgary sending seven players back to their major junior clubs after recent training camp work. Forwards Riley Boychuk and Brett Olson were among the group, along with a cluster of prospects the organization has been watching closely since their draft years.
The moves also get those young players back to where they need to be for the start of the junior season, and several are lined up to hit the ice in the coming days. For Calgary, it is another early step in a camp that is already separating the long shots from the names still in the mix, while leaving the next round of decisions ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Flames Prospects Gave Fans Plenty To Talk About Against Edmonton
The Flames prospects got a first taste of the Battle of Alberta stage at the Scotiabank Saddledome in a NextGen Showcase matchup with the Oilers, and there was no shortage of takeaways even in a lopsided result. Edmonton struck twice in the opening period and stayed in control from there, while Calgary spent much of the night trying to find any rhythm against a group that dictated play early and often.
Still, the game offered a few moments worth noting for Calgarys development staff and the fans watching closely. Aydar Suniev provided the lone bright spot on the scoreboard, and the crease situation became part of the story as Arsenii Sergeev gave way to Kirill Zarubin during the contest. It was the kind of prospect night that left more questions than answers, but also plenty to revisit once the dust settles. [Read more 🡒]