Newly acquired defenseman Simon Nemec expressed his ambition to earn a prominent leadership role with the Calgary Flames following the finalization of his five-year contract extension on Monday.
The 22-year-old Slovakian native signed a $36.25 million deal that carries an average annual value of $7.25 million, making him the highest-paid blue-liner on the roster.
Nemec joined Calgary on June 23 alongside forward Maxim Tsyplakov via a multi-player trade with the New Jersey Devils.
Contract Provides Stability
The young defenseman indicated that securing his contract early in the offseason provides essential stability as he prepares to transition to his new team environment in Southern Alberta.
"It's good to have the contract right now, in this part of the summer," Nemec said.
Nemec noted that having the agreement finalized allows him to organize his upcoming relocation and training schedule efficiently before the season begins.
"Now we can plan everything else," he said.
Competition and Leadership Goals
Evaluating the depth of the Calgary defensive unit, Nemec welcomed the internal competition for playing time and set high expectations for his personal contribution to the squad.
"If you see that D corps, I think it's pretty good. I think it's going to be great competition for me and the other players.
I feel confident to play a lot of minutes and be one of the leaders of the team.
That's going to be my goal for next season," Nemec said.
The former 2022 second-overall draft selection expressed enthusiasm regarding his future with the franchise, highlighting the positive feedback he received from teammates.
"I'm really happy and really excited for the next five years in Calgary," Nemec said.
He added that the insights shared by current members of the roster have heightened his anticipation for joining the organization.
"I've heard so many good things from all the players, so I'm really excited," he said.
Warm Welcome from Teammates
The defenseman revealed that the welcoming reception from the Flames locker room began immediately after the June trade was finalized.
"So many players texted me after that trade," Nemec said.
He expressed gratitude for the outreach, noting that the supportive messages significantly eased the initial shock of being traded.
"It's good for me and I'm really happy with that," he said.
To prepare for the move, Nemec consulted fellow Slovakian international teammates Martin Pospisil and Sam Honzek about life in Calgary.
"My Slovak teammates, I asked them a lot of questions about Calgary and they've been pretty helpful," Nemec said.
Offseason Training in Slovakia
Currently training in Slovakia, Nemec is maintaining a strict offseason regimen to ensure he is in peak physical condition upon arrival in Canada.
"I'm doing my off-ice stuff and on-ice too; I'm on the same plan as last year, I started skating a little bit earlier, a month after the season," Nemec said.
The defenseman established this routine based on his successful performance during the previous NHL campaign with New Jersey.
"I felt pretty good last year, so I just wanted to do the same thing this year," Nemec said.
Nemec plans to arrive in Calgary by mid-August, roughly one month prior to the team's preseason opening game against the Seattle Kraken on Sept.
20.
"I'm working hard right now and waiting for the new season," Nemec said.
