Former No. 2 pick set for a massive payday: Calgary aims high with Simon Nemec

Simon Nemec is barely settled in Calgary, and already the price tag on his next contract is turning heads.

The 22 year old defenseman is currently playing on an entry-level deal worth $918,333 against the cap.

That number is about to look very small.

According to Frank Seravalli, if the Flames sign Nemec to a long-term extension, his annual cap hit could land around $8 million.

That's not pocket change for a team still trying to figure out its identity.

Frank Seravalli says if the Simon Nemec extension is long-term, be prepared for his annual cap hit to hit $8 million.

Calgary finished the season at 34-39-9, good for 77 points, and a minus-47 goal differential that tells its own story.

Nemec posted 26 points across 68 games this year, with 11 goals, 15 assists and a minus-11 rating skating in front of Ryan Huska behind the bench.

Why Craig Conroy's next move matters more than the number

An $8 million bet on a young defenseman is either a franchise cornerstone decision or a very expensive guess. Right now, it's hard to tell which.

General manager Craig Conroy already made the call to bring Nemec in, and now he owns whatever comes next.

Nemec's last 10 games tell a rougher tale than his season line. One point in 10 outings, and a minus-9 rating over that stretch.

Zoom out further and it gets worse. Zero points and a minus-8 rating across his last five.

Think of it like buying a stock right after it dipped. You're betting on the rebound, not the current chart.

Calgary already has money committed up top, with Jonathan Huberdeau at $10,500,000 and Matthew Coronato at $6,500,000 on the books.

Layering an $8 million cap hit onto a blue line that already includes Kevin Bahl at $5,350,000 changes the math fast for a team picking 30th overall in the standings.

The Flames did split their season series with New Jersey, Nemec's old team, going 1-1 with a 5-4 win in March and a 1-2 overtime loss back in January.

Handing out that kind of money to a defenseman still finding his footing in a new market is a bold call, and not one every front office would make right now.