Flames Trade 2028 First-Round Pick Again in Major Deal with Devils

The 2028 first-round pick that the Colorado Avalanche sent to the Calgary Flames as part of the Nazem Kadri trade has shifted hands once more. In a significant summer move, the Flames have bolstered their roster by acquiring former second-overall pick Simon Nemec and winger Maxim Tsyplakov in a multi-player exchange with the New Jersey Devils. This deal not only enhances Calgary’s immediate NHL competitiveness but also offers promising long-term potential as it reshuffles various future draft assets.

Leading the return for New Jersey is a substantial package that features a conditional 2027 first-round pick from the Vegas Golden Knights, a conditional 2028 first-round pick from Colorado, a 2026 second-round pick belonging to the New York Rangers, and defenseman Etienne Morin. The top-10 protection on both first-round selections mitigates some of the risk for Calgary while emphasizing the cost associated with landing two established young NHL players.

At the heart of this trade is Nemec, a right-shot defenseman who was picked second overall by New Jersey in the 2022 NHL Draft. Despite his youth, Nemec has already made a significant impact in the NHL, appearing in 68 games during the 2025-26 season and recording 26 points (11 goals and 15 assists) along with 26 penalty minutes—his most productive campaign to date. Since his debut in the 2023-24 season, he has played 155 career NHL games, consistently expanding his role and offensive contributions from the blue line.

Niemec’s international credentials are equally impressive. He has been a stalwart for Slovakia, participating in all six games at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics, where he contributed two assists as Slovakia narrowly missed the podium, finishing in fourth place. This followed a bronze-medal run at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, marking his second Olympic appearance before the age of 23.

His development has been characterized by exceptional performances at various levels, including captaining Slovakia at the 2021 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where he earned MVP honors with six points. He also set a record for the most points by an 18-year-old defenseman at the 2022 IIHF World Championship, tallying six points in eight games.

Joining him is Tsyplakov, a physical winger whose journey to the NHL has been shaped by extensive professional experience overseas and a swift adaptation to North American play. Over 126 NHL games split between the New York Islanders and the New Jersey Devils, he has tallied 39 points, with 12 goals and 27 assists. After signing as an undrafted free agent in 2024, Tsyplakov quickly became a regular in New York before being traded to New Jersey during the 2025-26 season, where he added 22 more games to his resume.

Before his NHL career, Tsyplakov spent nine seasons in the KHL with Spartak Moscow, amassing 121 points (63 goals and 58 assists) over 327 games. His game is defined by size, straight-line speed, and a direct, physical style that has translated successfully at the NHL level.

The 2028 first-round pick was among several draft assets the Colorado Avalanche moved in recent seasons as they pursued a Stanley Cup. However, Colorado has begun to replenish some of that draft capital in smaller increments. General manager Joe Sakic recently acquired two picks from the Nashville Predators in exchange for Ross Colton and goaltender Isak Posch: a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 third-round pick originally belonging to Colorado. The 2027 third-round selection returns to the Avalanche after previously being traded to Nashville in the Juuso Pärssinen deal, and it was later included in a separate transaction involving Ryan Lindgren during the 2025 trade deadline.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.