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.
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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.
