Nemec Trade Could Be the Start of a Major Devils Roster Rebuild

On June 23, the New Jersey Devils announced that they traded their 2022 second-overall pick, Simon Nemec, to the Calgary Flames. On the surface, the deal could appear to be a massive gamble, as New Jersey’s front office elected to move one of their most valuable young assets before he even reached his prime.

However, the return suggests something much bigger may be unfolding.

Rather than targeting a player immediately, new general manager Sunny Mehta secured future assets. The Devils acquired prospect Etienne Morin, Calgary’s 2026 second-round pick (via the New York Rangers), the Vegas Golden Knights’ 2027 first-round pick, and the Colorado Avalanche’s 2028 first-round pick in exchange for Nemec and Maxim Tsyplakov. With both first-round selections carrying top-10 protection, the return gives New Jersey significant draft capital and another depth prospect as Mehta begins reshaping the roster.

The move immediately changes the trajectory of the Devils’ offseason and could signal that Mehta is preparing for a much larger roster reconstruction than many expected.

Mehta’s First Statement 

For years, the Devils approached roster construction with the goal of maximizing their championship window around cornerstone players such as Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, and Jesper Bratt. With a young core already in place, draft picks were often viewed as assets that could be moved to address immediate needs, like a bottom-six center or a backup goaltender.

This trade feels different.

By acquiring two additional first-round picks and another second-round selection, the Devils suddenly possess one of the more flexible collections of draft capital across the league, creating two possible options for Mehta and the front office.

The first is using those selections to replenish a prospect pipeline that has thinned considerably over the past few years. The second, and more likely option, is utilizing those picks in future trades to acquire an elite caliber NHL player.

Either way, the Devils are suddenly operating from a position of strength.

Draft Assets Give the Devils Greater Flexibility 

Instead of entering negotiations with only their own draft selections, the Devils now possess multiple additional premium assets that can be moved without sacrificing their own first-round picks. As several analysts noted immediately after the trade, the Nemec package gives Mehta the flexibility to aggressively pursue roster upgrades if opportunities become available.

The Devils are coming off a disappointing season that ended far below expectations, and there has already been speculation that Mehta could explore significant changes to the roster. Several offseason projections suggested New Jersey would consider moving pieces from its defensive depth in order to address weaknesses up front or in goal.

Now, Mehta has the draft capital necessary to make those moves.

Cap Space Relief 

The draft picks are not the only benefit for the Devils.

By including Tsyplakov in the trade, the Devils also removed his $2.25 million cap hit from the books. While not a huge number by any means, every amount counts for this team trying to add quality pieces to its roster.

The additional cap flexibility creates more options for Mehta as free agency approaches. It also makes it easier for New Jersey to absorb salary in future trades if the right opportunity emerges.

Combined with the newly acquired draft capital, the Devils now possess two of the most important resources in roster building: cap space and future assets.

Why Nemec Became Expendable

Just a few years ago, moving Nemec would have seemed unthinkable. Selected second overall in the 2022 NHL Draft, Nemec was expected to become a foundational piece of New Jersey’s blue line alongside Luke Hughes. He showed flashes of that potential throughout his first few seasons. However, several factors complicated his future in New Jersey.

The Devils were already heavily invested on the blue line, with Luke Hughes locked into a long-term extension and significant money committed to veterans Brett Pesce and Dougie Hamilton. Nemec, meanwhile, was entering restricted free agency and appeared poised for a substantial raise of his own. Given the organization’s existing commitments and the reality of a hard salary cap, fitting another major contract onto the back end was just not possible.

Beyond the financial considerations, there were also questions about opportunity. With Hughes, Pesce, Hamilton and players like Jonas Siegenthaler and Johnathan Kovacevic expected to play significant roles, the Devils faced a logjam on defense.

As a result, the Devils made a pragmatic decision. Rather than committing significant cap space to another defenseman they simply did not have room for, they chose to convert Nemec into a collection of premium assets that can be used in a variety of ways. Whether those picks eventually become prospects or are flipped in future trades, the return provides greater organizational flexibility and may ultimately deliver more long-term value than retaining a player whose fit within the roster had become increasingly uncertain.

The First Domino for Mehta

The most interesting aspect of the trade may be what happens next.

If Mehta’s goal was simply to collect draft picks, the Devils could stay in place and use those selections to rebuild organizational depth. While that approach would help strengthen the franchise’s long-term outlook, it is a process that can take years to produce results and offers no guarantee of success.

A more likely scenario is that Mehta uses this newly acquired draft capital as currency to pursue established NHL talent. The Devils entered the offseason with several areas in need of improvement, including their forward group and questions surrounding the goaltending position. Trade speculation has already surrounded veteran netminder Jacob Markstrom, while the team has also been linked to a search for additional scoring support. 

With multiple extra first-round picks and an additional second-round selection now at his disposal, Mehta has significantly expanded the range of moves available to him. Whether the target is a top-six winger, a bottom-six scorer, a goaltending upgrade, or another impact player capable of helping the Devils return to contention, New Jersey now possesses the assets necessary to compete in those conversations.

The Nemec trade feels less like an isolated transaction and more like the opening move in what could become a transformative offseason for the Devils.