Nemec Gets First Crack at Flames' Top Power Play

Simon Nemec ran the Calgary Flames' top power-play unit at Friday's practice, taking the first turn in a competition with Zayne Parekh.

Nemec, 22, worked with Morgan Frost, Joel Farabee, Matvei Gridin and Matt Coronato on the second day of camp. Parekh quarterbacked the second unit.

"They both want to run the power play, so I hope one of them really takes charge of it, and it doesn't matter to me who it is," coach Ryan Huska said. "I feel like we have a luxury now that we have two guys on the back end."

Huska said Calgary can stay flexible, allowing whichever defenseman is playing better to run the first group on a given night.

The role opened after Rasmus Andersson and MacKenzie Weegar, Calgary's previous power-play quarterbacks, left the team. The Flames finished last in NHL scoring last season and ranked 31st on the power play at 16.2 percent.

Nemec said his style could complement Parekh's rather than limit the two to separate units.

"I think he moves the puck maybe more than me, and I'm more like the shooter than passer," Nemec said. "So I think we can also play together."

Calgary acquired Nemec from New Jersey in June. The second overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft had 11 goals and 15 assists in 68 games for the Devils last season before signing a five-year contract with the Flames.