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Calgary Flames GM Conroy explains why he traded for Nemec

Colton Pankiw
Colton Pankiw
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Jun 23 2026, 10:18 pm
Calgary Flames GM Conroy explains why he traded for Nemec
Sergei Belski/Imagn Images

The Calgary Flames made a major addition to their back end on Tuesday afternoon in a trade with the New Jersey Devils.

The Flames have acquired 2022 second-overall pick Simon Nemec, along with forward Maxim Tysplakov from the Devils in exchange for first-round picks in 2027 and 2028, a second-round pick in 2026, and blueline prospect Etienne Morin.

This was a big swing to take for GM Craig Conroy, though he certainly had the assets to make it happen. The 54-year-old has done an excellent job at acquiring draft capital since taking charge in May of 2023 and clearly felt it was time to make a push to add some NHL-ready talent.

“It probably started when we were at the Memorial Cup, was talking to Jersey about this as a possibility. It really heated up the last few days,” Conroy revealed to Pat Steinberg and Logan Gordon on Sportsnet 960. “Obviously we gave up a lot, but when you’re looking at a 22-year-old defenceman that really, especially the second half of this year, really started to take off. We felt like this is a player we needed to pay a price for to get.

“We were never going to put our picks in it; that wasn’t a starting point for us. Vegas and Colorado are very good teams, they have top-1o protection already on those picks, and we figured they were probably going to be 22-32, so to be able to get ahead, to get a player like this, to bring him in, to let him build with our guys … It just made too much sense. We had to do it.”

Nemec had reportedly grown sour over his lack of opportunity in the Devils organization, which led to rumblings that he would be dealt this offseason. Based on Conroy’s comments, it doesn’t sound as though he will have any problems carving out a bigger role in Calgary.

“We just felt like he can play in any situation, he’s going to be able to play big minutes,” Conroy said. “He’s 6-foot-1, good size, strong, competes. He does it all well. To be able to grab a guy like that that we can plug and play right away next year, I can’t wait to get here in September and watch him play.”

Ultimately, it will be Ryan Huska’s decision as to where Nemec fits best in the lineup. Conroy did admit, however, that he can envision him slotting in alongside Kevin Bahl.

What will be interesting to see now is if this trade changes the Flames’ draft strategy. Conroy continued to state that he and his staff plan on taking the best player available, but you have to wonder whether they would now pass on a right-shot defenceman given how many they have in their pipeline.

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