Calgary Flames sign defenseman to five-year, $36.25 million contract

The Calgary Flames signed defenseman Simon Nemec to a five-year contract worth $36.25 million on Monday. Nemec will count $7.25 million against the salary cap through the 2030-31 NHL season. Calgary acquired his rights and a winger from another team last month for a second-round pick this year, two conditional first-round picks and a prospect.

Background on the acquisition The team that previously held his rights said the return from Calgary was too good to pass up. Officials there said they felt it was the right move for the organization to move on. The defenseman skated in 159 combined games in the league since being selected with the second pick in the 2022 draft, averaging roughly 19 minutes of ice time.

Officials denied that he asked for a trade and said after a conversation that they felt it best for the 22-year-old to get a fresh start elsewhere. "He just wants a path," the official said.