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Flames acquire Simon Nemec and Maxim Tsyplakov in trade with Devils
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Photo credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Ryan Pike
Jun 23, 2026, 15:19 EDTUpdated: Jun 23, 2026, 15:42 EDT
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The annual pre-draft trade has occurred for the Calgary Flames.
Per multiple reports, notably Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Flames have acquired defenceman Simon Nemec and forward Maxim Tsyplakov from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Vegas’ 2027 first-round pick, Colorado’s 2028 first-round pick, the NY Rangers’ 2026 second-round pick and defenceman Etienne Morin.
Let’s run this down.
Heading to Calgary are Nemec and Tsyplakov.
Nemec is a 22-year-old right shot defenceman from Slovakia. He was the second overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. He’s a pending restricted free agent on July 1, as he’s just completed his entry-level deal with the Devils. He split the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons between the Devils and the AHL’s Utica Comets, but he carved out a role for himself as an NHL regular in 2025-26. He played 68 games and posted 26 points, but with the Devils’ current roster structure he felt like someone that could be moved to a place with more opportunity on the right side.
Tsyplakov is a 27-year-old left shot winger from Russia. He was signed as a free agent out of Russia prior to the 2024-25 season and split last year between the New York Islanders (who originally signed him) and the Devils, who acquired him in a trade prior to the deadline for Ondrej Palat and a couple picks. Tsyplakov struggled offensively last season, posting 4 points in 49 games. He’s signed for the coming season at a $2.25 million cap hit, at which point he’s eligible to become an unrestricted free agent.
On paper, Nemec feels like a long-term acquisition. Tsyplakov feels like an audition.
Headed to the Devils are:
  • Vegas’ 2027 first-round pick, acquired in the Rasmus Andersson trade. The pick transfer to Calgary is top-10 protected, which carries over to the Devils. (If Vegas’ 2027 pick is in the top 10, their 2028 pick transfers to Calgary… and then to New Jersey.)
  • Colorado’s 2028 first-round pick, also top 10 protected. (If the conditions connected to the Nazem Kadri trade, themselves tied to Colorado’s trade with Toronto for Nicolas Roy, end up with the Flames not receiving Colorado’s 2028 first-rounder, then they would receive their 2029 first-rounder instead… and send it to New Jersey.)
  • The 35th overall pick in this year’s draft, the NY Rangers’ second-rounder, acquired by the Flames from Utah in the MacKenzie Weegar trade.
  • 2023 second-round pick Etienne Morin, an impressive QMJHL blueliner who struggled with the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers early in 2025-26 in his first pro season, but gradually grew into a pretty serviceable AHL blueliner.
The Flames had an abundance of draft capital – and still do, frankly – and between that and their crowded prospect cupboards, they likely felt this trade was an opportunity to grab a long-term piece in Nemec without giving up a whole lot of their ongoing flexibility.
We’ll have more on this trade as details become available.

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