New Jersey Devils Acquire Draft Capital and Prospect in Major Trade with Calgary Flames

The New Jersey Devils finalized a significant trade on Tuesday afternoon, sending defenseman Simon Nemec and forward Maxim Tsyplakov to the Calgary Flames. In return, New Jersey will receive two conditional first-round draft picks, a 2026 second-round selection, and defenseman Etienne Morin.

The conditional assets include a first-round pick from Calgary in either 2027 or 2028, contingent upon the outcome of a previous transaction involving the Vegas Golden Knights. The second conditional first-round pick is slated for 2028 or 2029, stemming from an earlier trade with the Colorado Avalanche.

TRADE ALERT: We’ve acquired two conditional first-round picks, a 2026 second-round selection, and defenseman Etienne Morin from Calgary in exchange for defenseman Simon Nemec and forward Maxim Tsyplakov.

: pic.twitter.com/Euv0HFAsX9— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) June 23, 2026

Etienne Morin spent much of the past season with the Calgary Wranglers in the AHL, recording one goal and six assists in 42 appearances. He also saw limited action with the Rapid City Rush in the ECHL, where he tallied three points in seven games.

Given the depth on the Devils’ blue line, a move involving Nemec was widely anticipated. As a highly sought-after young right-handed defenseman, Nemec demonstrated significant offensive upside during his three seasons in New Jersey, highlighted by several clutch goals and a career hat trick.

Tsyplakov’s time with the organization was brief following his trade from the New York Islanders in January. Over 22 games, he recorded one goal and one assist while averaging 8:28 of ice time per contest.

This aggressive transaction signals a major shift under new general manager Sunny Mehta, suggesting a comprehensive roster restructuring is underway.

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