The Calgary Flames didn't make too many moves this off-season, with the team hoping that improvement comes from within whether it be the young core already at the NHL level or the arrival of several key prospects throughout the season.
While the team may not have the best NHL core of players under 23-years-old, there's plenty of potential throughout the lineup, but out of every player on that list, none have more high end potential than former No. 2 overall pick, Simon Nemec.
So, looking ahead to the new season, what can we expect from a player that started to put the pieces together in 2025/26, and can we expect to see him deliver on the immense upside he's shown across his career? Let's take a look.
Simon Nemec Started to Put the Potential Together in 2025/26
Back in 2022, Simon Nemec was the No. 2 overall pick of the New Jersey Devils, and immediately he made an impact at the AHL level, posting 12 goals and 34 points in 65 games. However, he was unable to flourish in opportunities at the NHL level, and even a year ago, he wasn't given chances despite injuries as the team instead prioritized the likes of Dougie Hamilton, Luke Hughes and Brett Pesce.
Despite this, Nemec did manage to show the most potential of his NHL career to date, posting 11 goals and 26 points in 68 games played, and with 2 assists for Slovakia at the Olympics, he's shown that he can be a genuine option for a team.
All of this production in the NHL a year ago was done without being prioritized either at 5v5 or on the powerplay, and while he's yet to truly pop off, at just 22-years-old, there's still plenty of time for him to flourish in Calgary after signing a long-term deal.
What Role Will Simon Nemec Play in 2026/27?
Unlike in New Jersey, the Flames won't immediately be competing for a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and as a result, the team have the freedom and flexibility to prioritize a player like this, meaning that Nemec will no doubt be playing top pairing minutes while also featuring on the Flames PP1 throughout the year.
On top of that, he'll have some very talented players around him on the blue line in the likes of Kevin Bahl, Jake Middleton and Zach Whitecloud, all of whom know their roles in prioritizing defense while optimizing chances for the offensive threats around them.
Whether or not Nemec ever becomes a top-10 defenseman in the NHL, only time will tell, but right now he's going to get all the chances needed to start consistently creating offense, and with a team that's going to tank and has nothing to lose, his chance to take the first big leap of his career comes in 2026/27.
Final Predictions for Nemec in 2026/27 (based on the assumption of 82 games of health): 15 goals, 31 assists, 46 points.
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