- Craig Conroy says the Flames are in contract talks with new addition Simon Nemec
- Calgary issued Nemec a qualifying offer to buy more time to negotiate
- Read below for what Nemec could cost and how Calgary landed him
The Flames and Simon Nemec are talking contract.
Calgary general manager Craig Conroy told reporters at the team’s development camp that he has been in touch with Nemec’s representatives about a new deal. Conroy was asked where things stand and said he doesn’t expect to hear back from that side until later this week or early next.
There has already been a step to keep the door open. Pat Steinberg laid out where the Flames landed on their restricted free agents:
The qualifying offer to Nemec gives the Flames extra runway to sort out a longer deal. He is a tricky player to price. The upside is obvious, but there’s real uncertainty in his game, and he is reportedly aiming for something close to what Luke Hughes got from New Jersey last fall, a seven-year, $63 million contract.
Conroy paid a steep price to get him in the first place. Calgary acquired Nemec and Maxim Tsyplakov from the Devils last month for a package headlined by two conditional first-round picks, along with a second-rounder and prospect Etienne Morin.
The 22-year-old defenseman is coming off a career year in New Jersey. He put up 26 points, 11 goals and 15 assists, across 68 games, wrapped up his entry-level deal, and became a restricted free agent on July 1.
Take a look at what the Flames are betting on in this Nemec highlight video:
Development camp wraps Friday at WinSport. Getting a signature from Nemec is the bigger item still sitting on Conroy’s desk.
