New Jersey Devils defenseman Simon Nemec (17) controls the puck during a game against the Washington Capitals.
The Devils added some draft capital on Tuesday, dealing defenseman Šimon Nemec to the Flames in exchange for a pair of conditional first-round draft picks in 2027 and 2028, as well as a second-round pick in this week’s NHL draft.
The Devils will also receive 21-year-old defensive prospect Etienne Morin and the Flames will get former Islander Maxim Tsyplakov.
The conditional picks are top 10 protected.
New Jersey Devils defenseman Simon Nemec (17) controls the puck during a game against the Washington Capitals. AP Photo/Nick Wass
Nemec is coming off a season in which he put up a career high 26 points (11 goals, 15 assists) in 68 games for New Jersey and had wrapped up his third season in the NHL since being drafted No. 2 overall in the 2022 NHL Draft by the Devils’ previous general manager, Tom Fitzgerald.
Tuesday’s deal is one of the first sizeable moves made by new GM Sunny Mehta as the Devils prepare for this week’s draft.
Nemec was set to be an unrestricted free agent this summer after completing his rookie contract, and the deal indicates that Mehta opted not to engage with what likely would have been a pricey extension and move Nemec while interest was there.
The Devils have a dearth of defensemen at the moment in Luke Hughes, Dougie Hamilton, Brett Pesce, Brenden Dillon, Jonas Siegenthaler and Johnathan Kovacevic.
The team also had prospect Seamus Casey and signed their No. 10 overall pick in 2024, Anton Silayev.
If Nemec turns into a high-end defenseman, the deal could come back to haunt Mehta and the Devils, but for now, the team has essentially seen enough for the organization to be comfortable making Tuesday’s deal.
Devils General Manager Sunny Mehta speaks at a press conference at Prudential Center on April 21,2026. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The added draft picks could make for an interesting Friday and Saturday for the Devils, with the possibility that they could use them to make a trade.
The Devils have roughly $13.1 million in cap space at the moment, according to PuckPedia.
With the Brady Tkachuk trade to the Florida Panthers, there is some shakeup in the top 10 of the 2026 NHL Draft. The Chicago Blackhawks, however, will not see their fourth overall pick impacted by that move.
They still have to wait to see how things unfold with the Toronto Maple Leafs, San Jose Sharks, and Vancouver Canucks ahead of them.
Early in the process, there was some chatter that the San Jose Sharks would take a defenseman, which could leave Ivar Stenberg for the Blackhawks if the Canucks took Manny Malhotra’s son, Caleb.
Now, the whispers are that the Canucks may not draft the son of their new head coach. This is what the draft could look like if Stenberg is not available to Chicago because Vancouver flipped the script at the last minute:
1. Toronto Maple Leafs - Gavin McKenna, LW, Penn State
The Toronto Maple Leafs selecting Gavin McKenna would add another star to their crop of great forwards. Assuming they don't trade any of them, he would be wonderful on a power play unit with Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies, William Nylander, and Darren Raddysh.
2. San Jose Sharks - Chase Reid, D, Sault St. Marie
The San Jose Sharks made some moves that suggest they are changing their thinking, but they could still use a high-end defenseman at the top of the draft. Chase Reid would provide them with that.
3. Vancouver Canucks - Ivar Stenberg, LW, Frolunda
The Vancouver Canucks pass on their coach's son here and select Ivar Stenberg. They have a strong history with Swedish forwards becoming stars, and Stenberg has that type of ceiling.
4. Chicago Blackhawks - Caleb Malhotra, C, Brantford
With Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg off the board, the Chicago Blackhawks select the third-best forward in the draft, which is Caleb Malhotra. A selection like this would move one of Anton Frondell or Frank Nazar back to the wing.
5. New York Rangers - Keaton Verhoeff, D, North Dakota
The New York Rangers take a chance on Keaton Verhoeff's high ceiling with this selection at fifth overall. With Adam Fox's speed in question, Verhoeff would be a great compliment to him.
6. Calgary Flames - Carson Carels, D, Prince George
The Calgary Flames just traded for Simon Nemec, which adds a great young defenseman to their pool. Carson Carels is another one with an incredibly high ceiling to consider adding to that mix.
7. Seattle Kraken - Alberts Smits, D, Jukurit
The Seattle Kraken get what could turn out to be a star in Alberts Smits, who helped Latvian hockey take a big step in the Olympics and World Championships. They are desperate for stars, so taking a chance on this player with star potential is the perfect idea for them.
8. Winnipeg Jets - Daxon Rudolph, D, Prince Albert
Things fall off a bit in terms of potential when it comes to defensemen following the selection of Smits, but Winnipeg is brilliant at taking young defensemen and turning them into great players. Daxon Rudolph would fit right in there.
9. San Jose Sharks via Ottawa Senators via Florida Panthers - Viggo Bjorck, RW, Djurgarden
This 9th overall pick, which originally belonged to the Florida Panthers, has done some traveling. First, it was traded to the Blackhawks, but it was top-ten protected. Then, Florida used it in the Brady Tkachuk trade with the Ottawa Senators. Finally, the Senators traded it to the Sharks for William Eklund. Now, in this mock, they use it on Viggo Bjorck after using the second overall pick on a defenseman. Bjorck was impressive all season, whether it was with Djurgarden, the World Juniors, or the World Championships.
10. Nashville Predators - Tynan Lawrence, C, Boston University
The Nashville Predators had somewhat of a bounce-back year, but it wasn't enough to keep them from finishing with a top-ten pick. Tynan Lawrence, who may be a center or wing in the NHL, is the perfect project for them. At one point, he was projected to be a top-three pick, so taking a chance on his skills at 10 is perfect for Nashville.
11. St. Louis Blues - Ryan Lin, D, Vancouver
This is the first of three picks for the St. Louis Blues in the 2026 NHL Draft. Selecting a defenseman in Ryan Lin makes sense for them organizationally, but they could probably use a bit of everything at this point.
12. New Jersey Devils - Wyatt Cullen, F, USDP
Wyatt Cullen is a speedy forward who fits what the New Jersey Devils try to do offensively. His ceiling would allow him to play with one of Jack Hughes or Nico Hischier, which is a reason that they'd take a chance on him.
13. New York Islanders - Ethan Belchetz, LW, Windsor
Ethan Belchetz, who will play for Michigan State in 2026-27, is in a great spot for him to work on his abilities. The New York Islanders would have two successful first rounds in a row if they made a selection like this.
14. Columbus Blue Jackets - Adam Novotny, LW, Peterborough
Adam Novotny is a forward who has some very good goal-scoring skills, and the rest of his offensive game is solid. The Columbus Blue Jackets, who have some wonderful young players, are still trying to build up. This makes Novotny's ceiling worth considering for their long-term plan.
15. St. Louis Blues via Detroit Red Wings - Oscar Hemming, RW, Boston College
The St. Louis Blues acquired the 15th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft in the Justin Faulk trade ahead of the deadline. On Tuesday, they traded Jordan Kyrou to the Washington Capitals, which makes adding a high-end forward prospect enticing. Oscar Hemming is a great option for them if he makes it to 15.
16. St. Louis Blues via Washington Capitals - Malte Gustafsson, LD, HV71
The Blues received the 16th overall pick in the Kyrou trade, which makes it back to back selections in the mid-teens and three in the top half of the draft. They do need a lot of help all over the roster, but there may be some extra emphasis on defense this year. Malte Gustafsson is one to consider with this selection.
And one team in the Eastern Conference hopes it has found the missing piece to the puzzle.
The Capitals on Tuesday acquired forward Jordan Kyrou in a trade with the Blues in exchange for forwards Connor McMichael and Milton Gastrin and a 2026 first-round pick (No. 16).
Kyrou, 28, broke through during the 2021-22 season with a career-high 75 points — and an All-Star Game appearance — before recording three straight seasons of 30-plus goals, leading the team in scoring each year.
St. Louis Blues right wing Jordan Kyrou (25) skates the puck out from behind the net during an NHL game where the St. Louis Blues hosted the Winnipeg Jets on April 9, 2026, at the Enterprise Center. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
However, his production dipped this past season with just 18 goals and 28 assists for his lowest point total (46) since his third year in the NHL.
The Capitals, who finished with 95 points and missed the playoffs this year, made clear they are thrilled to acquire a player of Kyrou’s goal-scoring and offensive ability.
“Jordan is an exceptionally talented and dynamic offensive player who will make an immediate impact on our club,” general manager Chris Patrick said in a statement. “His skill, creativity, and ability to generate offense at an elite level will be a tremendous addition to our group. At just 28 years old and under contract for the next five seasons, Jordan is entering the prime years of his career. We believe he is an ideal fit for our team both now and for the long term.”
Connor McMichael of the Washington Capitals seen in action during the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena on April 14, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio. Getty Images
Kyrou signed an eight-year extension worth $65 million before the 2022-23 season, so he’s under contract through the 2030-31 campaign, in theory giving Washington a top-flight forward for years to come.
In McMichael, the Capitals lose their 2019 first-round pick, who, ironically enough, finished with 46 points last season. Gastrin, a center from Sweden, was a second-round pick last year and has yet to make his NHL debut.
On Monday, former Calgary Flames President of Hockey Operations Brian Burke earned induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame. With a career spanning almost four decades, including a Stanley Cup championship with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007, this is one of the highest honors for Burke, who recently served as the Executive Director of the PWHL.
— Hockey Hall of Fame (@HockeyHallFame) June 22, 2026
In the NHL, Burke held many leadership positions with several clubs, including the Vancouver Canucks, Hartford Whalers, Anaheim Ducks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins, and, of course, the Flames.
After serving as President, General Manager, and Senior Advisor with the Maple Leafs, he became the Flames' President of Hockey Operations on Sept. 5, 2013. Within three months, Burke fired then General Manager Jay Feaster, assuming the role for the remainder of the season.
Behind the bench, Bob Hartley was in his second season with the club, securing a 35-40-7 record for 77 points, improving upon a 19-25-4 record from the shortened 48-game 2012-13 campaign. However, the Flames finished sixth in the Pacific Division.
Interestingly, in the Flames' first trade under Burke, they acquired Joe Colborne from the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sep. 29, 2013. Shortly after the season began, Calgary made its second-ever trade with its provincial rivals, the Edmonton Oilers, acquiring Ladislav Smid and Olivier Roy for Roman Horak and Laurent Brossoit on Nov. 8, 2013.
On Apr. 28, 2014, Burke hired Brad Treliving to be the Flames' eighth General Manager. At the 2014 NHL Draft, Burke's first with the Flames, they selected Sam Bennett with the fourth overall pick. Unfortunately, the rest of that year's draft class was a miss, as none of the five others ever played an NHL game.
In the 2014-15 season, the organization rebounded, qualifying for the Stanley Cup playoffs with a 45-30-7 record, defeating the Canucks in six games before losing to the Ducks in five, both organizations with deep connections to Burke. Yet the success was short-lived, as the team missed the playoffs again in 2015-16, posting an opposite record of 30-45-7. The inconsistencies led to Glen Gulutzan replacing Hartley for the start of the new season.
At least the Flames found some success in Burke's second draft in 2015. Without a first-round pick, they ended up selecting Ramus Andersson at 53rd overall, along with Oliver Kylington (60th overall) and Andrew Mangiapane (166th overall). Meanwhile, one of the biggest trades in franchise history took place on June 26, 2015, when the Flames acquired defenseman Dougie Hamilton from the Boston Bruins for three draft picks: a first- and two second-round picks in the 2015 NHL Draft.
While Calgary advanced to the playoffs for the second time under Burke's watch in 2016-17, losing to the Ducks in four games after posting a 45-33-4 regular season record, the franchise's future took shape at the 2016 NHL Draft. That year, the Flames selected Matthew Tkachuk with the sixth overall pick, following that up with Dillon Dube at 56th overall and future Norris Trophy winner Adam Fox at 66th overall. As many recall, all three eventually left the organization, with Fox the only one never dressing with the team.
In 2017-18, the Flames scraped by with a 37-35-10 record, missing the playoffs for the third time since Burke's hire. Moreover, the team cycled through goalies, with Burke and Treliving acquiring Niklas Backstrom, Brian Elliott, and Mike Smith while dealing away Chad Johnson and Eddie Lack. Additionally, on Feb. 27, 2016, they traded away fan favorite Jiri Hudler to the Florida Panthers.
At the 2017 NHL Draft, the Flames used their first round pick on Juuso Välimäki (16th overall) and then used their next pick on Adam Ruzicka at 109th overall. Their last three picks in the later rounds never made it into the league.
Despite many ups and downs, Burke stepped down as President of Hockey Operations on Apr. 27, 2018. However, in one of the final moves he oversaw before departing, the Flames relieved Gulutzan of his coaching duties and hired Bill Peters as head coach on Apr. 23, 2018. Under Burke's watch, the Flames went 197-178-35 and only won a total of five playoff games.
Despite the lack of overwhelming success during his time with the club, Burke is the one who hired Brad Treliving, who would go on to leave his fingerprints all over today's roster. Eventually, Treliving would trade Tkachuk for Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar and lose Johnny Gaudreau to free agency. On the other hand, he drafted Dustin Wolf, Connor Zary, Martin Pospisil, and Matt Coronato, pillars of today's rebuild.
Burke becomes the latest inductee into the Hockey Hall of Fame with connections to the Flames, including the late Cliff Fletcher, Jarome Iginla, Joe Nieuwendyk, Mike Vernon, Al MacInnis, Joe Mullen, Doug Gilmour, Brett Hull, Sergei Makarov, Martin St. Louis, and Lanny McDonald.
On Tuesday morning, it was announced by the Detroit Red Wings that they will be hosting a four-team Prospect Tournament and Training Camp at the BELFOR Training Center inside of Little Caesars Arena in September.
This breaks from a longstanding tradition for the franchise that began in 1997 of holding Training Camp in Traverse City, Michigan.
The prospect tournament will feature players from not only the Red Wings but the Dallas Stars, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Columbus Blue Jackets, starting on Sept. 12. Training Camp will commence on Sept. 17, followed by four exhibition contests.
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) June 23, 2026
This will mark only the third time since 1997 that the Red Wings don't hold Training Camp at Center Ice Arena. The first occasion was in the winter of 2013 at the start of the lockout-shortened 2012-13 campaign; Camp was held at Compuware Arena (now known as USA Hockey Arena) in Plymouth.
Additionally, before the shortened 2020-21 NHL season amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Camp was held at Little Caesars Arena.
“We’ve always known there was a chance they would do something different,” Spaulding continued. “I don’t know if this is a permanent deal.”
The tradition of Training Camp being held in Traverse City was the idea of Hall of Fame coach Scotty Bowman.
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The Washington Capitals acquired right winger Brandon Kyrou in a trade with the St. Louis Blues on Thursday, keeping the player movement around the NHL spinning ahead of the draft later this week and with free agency on the horizon.
Washington sent veteran forward Connor McMichael, prospect Milton Gastrin and the 16th pick to St. Louis for the 28-year-old Kyrou, who is under contract for the next five seasons at a salary cap hit of $8.125 million.
Capitals general manager Chris Patrick foreshadowed making a move like this after doing more selling than buying at the deadline in March. Kyrou gives the team another player in his prime to join a core around Tom Wilson, Jakob Chychrun, Dylan Strome, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Aliaksei and Ilya Protas, Ryan Leonard and Logan Thompson — whether or not Alex Ovechkin returns.
“We believe he is an ideal fit for our team both now and for the long term,” Patrick said. “Jordan is an exceptionally talented and dynamic offensive player who will make an immediate impact on our club. His skill, creativity and ability to generate offense at an elite level will be a tremendous addition to our group.”
Kyrou had 18 goals and 28 assists in 72 games with St. Louis last season, producing below expectations for someone signed to be a key contributor. He is a three-time 30-goal scorer, reaching that mark consecutively from 2022-23 through 2024-25.
McMichael, 25, had 46 points in 78 games with the Capitals last season.
Gastrin, 19, was the 37th pick in the draft last year. Washington still has the 18th pick Friday night as part of the deal that sent longtime defenseman John Carlson to Anaheim in March.
In other trades Tuesday:
— The San Jose Sharks dealt William Eklund and forward prospects Kasper Halttunen and Brandon Svoboda to the Ottawa Senators for the ninth pick. The Sharks now have the Nos. 2, 9 and 27 picks in the first round of the draft Friday night. Ottawa got the No. 9 pick over the weekend as part of the return for sending Brady Tkachuk to Florida in the offseason’s biggest blockbuster so far. The Senators also received a pair of picks the Panthers got from Seattle for Mackie Samoskevich, along with a 2029 first-rounder.
— The New Jersey Devils sent Simon Nemec and Maxim Tsyplakov to the Calgary Flames for two future conditional first-round picks, as well as No. 35 overall this year and prospect Etienne Morin.
The Washington Capitals acquired right winger Brandon Kyrou in a trade with the St. Louis Blues on Thursday, keeping the player movement around the NHL spinning ahead of the draft later this week and with free agency on the horizon.
Washington sent veteran forward Connor McMichael, prospect Milton Gastrin and the 16th pick to St. Louis for the 28-year-old Kyrou, who is under contract for the next five seasons at a salary cap hit of $8.125 million.
Capitals general manager Chris Patrick foreshadowed making a move like this after doing more selling than buying at the deadline in March. Kyrou gives the team another player in his prime to join a core around Tom Wilson, Jakob Chychrun, Dylan Strome, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Aliaksei and Ilya Protas, Ryan Leonard and Logan Thompson — whether or not Alex Ovechkin returns.
“We believe he is an ideal fit for our team both now and for the long term,” Patrick said. “Jordan is an exceptionally talented and dynamic offensive player who will make an immediate impact on our club. His skill, creativity and ability to generate offense at an elite level will be a tremendous addition to our group.”
Kyrou had 18 goals and 28 assists in 72 games with St. Louis last season, producing below expectations for someone signed to be a key contributor. He is a three-time 30-goal scorer, reaching that mark consecutively from 2022-23 through 2024-25.
McMichael, 25, had 46 points in 78 games with the Capitals last season.
Gastrin, 19, was the 37th pick in the draft last year. Washington still has the 18th pick Friday night as part of the deal that sent longtime defenseman John Carlson to Anaheim in March.
In other trades Tuesday:
— The San Jose Sharks dealt William Eklund and forward prospects Kasper Halttunen and Brandon Svoboda to the Ottawa Senators for the ninth pick. The Sharks now have the Nos. 2, 9 and 27 picks in the first round of the draft Friday night. Ottawa got the No. 9 pick over the weekend as part of the return for sending Brady Tkachuk to Florida in the offseason’s biggest blockbuster so far. The Senators also received a pair of picks the Panthers got from Seattle for Mackie Samoskevich, along with a 2029 first-rounder.
— The New Jersey Devils sent Simon Nemec and Maxim Tsyplakov to the Calgary Flames for two future conditional first-round picks, as well as No. 35 overall this year and prospect Etienne Morin.
Apr 5, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; New Jersey Devils defenseman Simon Nemec (17) looks on during warm-up before the game against the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
David Kirouac-Imagn Images
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — The New Jersey Devils traded Simon Nemec to the Calgary Flames on Tuesday, getting draft picks for the 22-year-old defenseman.
In new general manager Sunny Mehta’s first major roster transaction, the Devils received two future conditional first-round picks, as well as No. 35 overall this year and prospect Etienne Morin for Nemec and winger Maxim Tsyplakov.
There had been buzz in recent weeks that Nemec was interested in a change of scenery. The right-handed shooting Slovak is just 22 years old and 159 games into his NHL career since New Jersey selected him with the second pick in the draft in 2022.
The first-rounders are top-10 protected, with Calgary potentially parting ways with one in each in some combination of 2027, ‘28 and ’29.
Morin, 21, is a left shot defenseman who spent last season in the minors.
Apr 5, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; New Jersey Devils defenseman Simon Nemec (17) looks on during warm-up before the game against the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
David Kirouac-Imagn Images
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — The New Jersey Devils traded Simon Nemec to the Calgary Flames on Tuesday, getting draft picks for the 22-year-old defenseman.
In new general manager Sunny Mehta’s first major roster transaction, the Devils received two future conditional first-round picks, as well as No. 35 overall this year and prospect Etienne Morin for Nemec and winger Maxim Tsyplakov.
There had been buzz in recent weeks that Nemec was interested in a change of scenery. The right-handed shooting Slovak is just 22 years old and 159 games into his NHL career since New Jersey selected him with the second pick in the draft in 2022.
The first-rounders are top-10 protected, with Calgary potentially parting ways with one in each in some combination of 2027, ‘28 and ’29.
Morin, 21, is a left shot defenseman who spent last season in the minors.
AS Roma owner Dan Friedkin meets the player Stephan El Shaarawy during the training session at Centro Sportivo Fulvio Bernardini on October 08, 2025 in Rome.
They say everything is bigger in Texas, and that could include the NHL’s footprint in the Lone Star State.
The NHL is exploring the expansion process in Texas, as Houston and Austin are being eyed as potential cities to land a franchise. The matter was discussed at the NHL’s board of governors meeting in Manhattan on Tuesday.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman told reporters that the league has been in conversations with the Friedkin family about a potential expansion team in Houston or Austin for two years, according to ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun.
Bettman said that Houston and Austin would need new arenas as part of any expansion bid and the expansion fee would be a whopping $3.5 billion if it happens in either city.
AS Roma owner Dan Friedkin meets the player Stephan El Shaarawy during the training session at Centro Sportivo Fulvio Bernardini on October 08, 2025 in Rome. NHLI via Getty Images
The NHL will take its time before making a decision and Bettman said it would take a six-month process to make up its mind whether it will go forward with expansion in one of those markets. Dallas has been home to the Stars since the franchise relocated from Minnesota in 1993,
Canadiens owner Geoff Molson, a member of the NHL’s board of governors executive committee, told reporters, according to ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski, that expansion in Texas is “just an exploration at this stage and it’s an important decision.”
Dan Friedkin, whose net worth is estimated at $10.3 billion per Bloomberg, emerged as a possible ownership option last year when he was written about by ESPN.
Friedkin is the CEO of The Friedkin Group, a conglomerate that has its hands in everything from Toyota distributors to award-winning resorts, according to the company’s website.
The company is based in Houston and Friedkin already has a growing portfolio of sports assets through Pursuit Sports, which is a company dedicated to TFG’s sports properties.
AS Roma owner Dan Friedkin meets the player Stephan El Shaarawy during the training session at Centro Sportivo Fulvio Bernardini on October 08, 2025 in Rome. AS Roma via Getty Images
The company owns Italian soccer club AS Roma in Serie A and The Friedkin Group took majority control of Premier League club Everton.
“Pursuit Sports, our family’s global sports ownership and operating platform, has reached an agreement with the NHL that provides us with the exclusive rights to bring an expansion NHL team to the State of Texas, with a primary focus on both Austin and Houston as potential markets,” the Friedkin family told the Houston Chronicle in a statement.
“Each city brings unique attributes that would make a new team a huge success — both have the infrastructure, passionate fan bases, and economic strength needed to support a championship-caliber franchise for years to come.
“We have wanted for some time to bring an NHL team to Texas, and we are excited that the process has now begun. Selecting a new market for an NHL franchise is a special and important responsibility, and we are grateful to the league for their faith in us and their support. Working with Commissioner [Gary] Bettman and the NHL, we will undertake a principled, disciplined, and methodical process to ensure we find the right long-term home for this new franchise.”
Houston is the biggest market in the United States or Canada that does not have a pro hockey team, and was home to the American Hockey League’s Houston Aeros until the team relocated to Des Moines, Iowa, in 2013.
The Devils have made a move ahead of this week’s NHL Draft.
New Jersey sent defenseman Simon Nemec and winger Maxim Tsyplakov to the Calgary Flames in exchange for a prospect and a package of draft picks.
The first of those selections is the Rangers’ second rounder for this year, and the other two are conditional top-10 protected first-round picks via the Golden Knights and Avalanche.
The Devils now hold six picks in this year’s draft, and a total of five first rounders over the next three years.
Nemec landed in New Jersey as the second overall pick in the 2022 Draft.
He played parts of three seasons after debuting with the club and is coming off his best statistical campaign to this point, finishing with 11 goals and 15 assists over 68 games.
The 22-year-old RFA is set to receive a big payday this summer.
Tsyplakov appeared in just 22 games down the stretch with the Devils after being acquired from the Islanders as part of the return for Ondrej Palat ahead of the trade deadline.
Etienne Morin, the prospect sent to New Jersey, is a 22-year-old d-man who skated in 42 AHL games last season.
The Devils have made a move ahead of this week’s NHL Draft.
New Jersey sent defenseman Simon Nemec and winger Maxim Tsyplakov to the Calgary Flames in exchange for a prospect and a package of draft picks.
The first of those selections is the Rangers’ second rounder for this year, and the other two are conditional top-10 protected first-round picks via the Golden Knights and Avalanche.
The Devils now hold six picks in this year’s draft, and a total of five first rounders over the next three years.
Nemec landed in New Jersey as the second overall pick in the 2022 Draft.
He played parts of three seasons after debuting with the club and is coming off his best statistical campaign to this point, finishing with 11 goals and 15 assists over 68 games.
The 22-year-old RFA is set to receive a big payday this summer.
Tsyplakov appeared in just 22 games down the stretch with the Devils after being acquired from the Islanders as part of the return for Ondrej Palat ahead of the trade deadline.
Etienne Morin, the prospect sent to New Jersey, is a 22-year-old d-man who skated in 42 AHL games last season.
One of the Montreal Canadiens' top goals this off-season should be to bring in another right-shot defenseman.
Unfortunately for the Habs, one of the top right-shot defenseman trade candidates is no longer a potential option for them.
This is because the Calgary Flames have acquired defenseman Simon Nemec from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for the Vegas Golden Knights' 2027 first-round pick, the Colorado Avalanche's 2028 first-round pick, the New York Rangers' 2026 second-round pick, and defenseman Etienne Morin. The Flames also added forward Maxim Tsyplakov from the Devils in the deal.
With Nemec being a 22-year-old right-shot defenseman with high potential, he would have had the potential to be an excellent addition to the Canadiens' roster. He could have fit very nicely in the Canadiens' young core, but alas, he is heading to the Flames instead.
With Nemec no longer available, the Canadiens will need to consider other options if they hope to land a new right-shot defenseman this off-season. The top right-shot defenseman trade candidates right now are Dougie Hamilton, Braden Schneider, and Rasmus Ristolainen. This year's top pending UFA options currently are John Carlson, Rasmus Andersson, and Jacob Trouba.
One of the Montreal Canadiens' top goals this off-season should be to bring in another right-shot defenseman.
Unfortunately for the Habs, one of the top right-shot defenseman trade candidates is no longer a potential option for them.
This is because the Calgary Flames have acquired defenseman Simon Nemec from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for the Vegas Golden Knights' 2027 first-round pick, the Colorado Avalanche's 2028 first-round pick, the New York Rangers' 2026 second-round pick, and defenseman Etienne Morin. The Flames also added forward Maxim Tsyplakov from the Devils in the deal.
With Nemec being a 22-year-old right-shot defenseman with high potential, he would have had the potential to be an excellent addition to the Canadiens' roster. He could have fit very nicely in the Canadiens' young core, but alas, he is heading to the Flames instead.
With Nemec no longer available, the Canadiens will need to consider other options if they hope to land a new right-shot defenseman this off-season. The top right-shot defenseman trade candidates right now are Dougie Hamilton, Braden Schneider, and Rasmus Ristolainen. This year's top pending UFA options currently are John Carlson, Rasmus Andersson, and Jacob Trouba.
Editor’s note: Sheng Peng is a regular contributor to NBC Sports California’s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.
What’s next for the Sharks after trading William Eklund to the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday?
The Sharks dealt Eklund, along with prospects Kasper Halttunen and Brandon Svoboda, to the Senators for the No. 9 overall pick of the 2026 NHL Draft.
So why did the Sharks move on from the popular winger?
It doesn’t feel like general manager Mike Grier is done. On the surface, it doesn’t make sense for a team that’s trying to get back into the playoff picture to trade an established and improving 23-year-old winger in Eklund for just a draft pick, however high, especially when there are clear holes on the Sharks’ blueline.
At the moment, the Sharks have just two blueliners signed, veteran Dmitry Orlov and sophomore Sam Dickinson, and a couple RFAs in Michael Kesselring and Shakir Mukhamadullin.
So using that No. 9 pick for some defensive help right now makes sense.
It is San Jose Hockey Now’s understanding that the Sharks had “lots of interest” in top-pairing defenseman Bowen Byram, who was dealt after the Eklund trade.
The Buffalo Sabres sent Byram, 25, and cap-dump bottom-six winger Jordan Greenway to the Chicago Blackhawks for the No. 4 and 45 picks, and 24-year-old defenseman Louis Crevier.
At this time, SJHN can’t confirm if the Sharks had offered the No. 9 overall pick for Byram. But obviously, the No. 4 overall trumps that. And while San Jose also possesses the No. 2 overall, that’s probably too rich an asset to surrender for Byram, not considered a true-blue No. 1 defenseman, especially with winger Ivar Stenberg likely on the board right there, if the Toronto Maple Leafs make Gavin McKenna the No. 1 overall pick, as expected.
Back to Eklund: The No. 7 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft had developed into a consistent 15-goal and 50-point winger, and at just 23, he certainly had lots of room to grow.
But the 5-foot-10 winger didn’t take the leap in his development expected of him this past season, which perhaps made him just a little more expendable than the rest of the Sharks’ deep cadre of talented forwards.
The presence of a talent like winger Stenberg at the No. 2 pick probably also made Eklund a little more expendable. Stenberg is coming off one of the most productive campaigns in SHL and World Championships history for a first-time draft-eligible, and is expected to be NHL-ready immediately.
So Grier packaged Eklund and a couple of solid but unremarkable prospects in Halttunen and Svoboda to acquire a very valuable and liquid asset in the No. 9 pick.
A smaller winger like Eklund, however skilled, isn’t every team’s cup of tea, but everybody likes a top-10 draft pick.
And even if Grier can’t flip that No. 9 pick for some defensive help by the draft this weekend, whoever he selects there will be a very valuable asset who hasn’t peaked in value, unlike Eklund, whose value, arguably, could be at the beginning of its decline after his up-and-down year.
We’ll see if Eklund can bounce back with the Senators next season. The talented and competitive winger is a good bet to do so.
But now, the Sharks are armed with the No. 2, No. 9, and No. 27 picks in the 2026 draft. Just speculating, but could No. 9 be a centerpiece in a trade for Vancouver Canucks blueliner Filip Hronek?
San Jose will have to add more to land Hronek, for sure. Like Byram, Hronek is thought of, ideally, as more of a strong two-way No. 2 defenseman on a playoff-caliber team.
The right-hander, 28, is older than Byram, and he’s got a full No Movement Clause. Hronek has not signaled that he wants to leave Vancouver, but the last-place Canucks have made clear that they are entering a rebuild.
Hronek is signed at a very reasonable $7.25 million AAV until 2032, unlike Byram, who is set to become a UFA in 2027.
On the balance, a Hronek package would probably resemble Byram’s, with the Sharks having to make up the difference between the No. 4 and 9 selections by dipping again into their deep prospects pool and/or also including the No. 27.
Multiple league sources, including three NHL scouts, agreed that the No. 9 was a suitable centerpiece for a defenseman of Hronek’s quality.
“It’s a good starting point, for sure.”
The white whale could also be out there for Grier.
There’s credible chatter that reigning Norris Trophy winner Zach Werenski could be available this offseason.
The Columbus Blue Jackets superstar is 28, set to be a UFA in the summer of 2028, so he comes with some flight risk.
Werenski will also hit 30, when, in theory, complementary potential stars like Will Smith and Igor Chernyshov and Michael Misa are in their primes.
But Grier, when asked on Tuesday morning about the age range that he’s considering, if he takes a “big swing” via trade this summer, gave what could be considered a telling answer.
“Ideally, someone in their mid-20’s, early-to-mid 20’s, who’s been in the league a little bit, got through the growing pains, and you have a pretty good idea what that player is and what they can bring to the organization,” Grier said. “Someone who’s been in the league a little bit, so whether that’s 22, 23 to 27, 28 somewhere in there.”
Just speculating: Would you offer the No. 2 and 9 picks to the Blue Jackets, to start, for Werenski?
These are the kinds of doors that trading Eklund could open for the Sharks … will Grier walk through?
