The Flames are already in seller mode this offseason, dealing winger Andrew Mangiapane for a Capitals for a second-round pick last night. It doesn’t look like they’re done, either. According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, they’re exploring the trade market for top-six center Nazem Kadri.
Pagnotta stresses that nothing is imminent regarding a potential deal, and Kadri would have complete control of whether he goes or stays with his no-move clause, which remains in effect for two more seasons. However, it indicates that general manager Craig Conroy is in teardown mode after Calgary missed the playoffs for the second straight year.
Things haven’t worked out for the Flames over the first two years of Kadri’s seven-year, $49MM deal signed in free agency in 2022. He was signed to help replenish Calgary’s top-end forward group after they lost Johnny Gaudreau to the Blue Jackets and dealt Matthew Tkachuk to the Panthers in exchange for Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar.
But unlike Huberdeau, trading Kadri wouldn’t necessarily be admitting failure with his contract. He had a trying season in his first year in Alberta, limited to 56 points in 82 games after posting a career-high 89 in 71 while winning a Stanley Cup with the Avalanche the year before. But he rebounded nicely this season, leading the team in points by a wide margin and averaging 18:26 per game, second-most in his career, only behind his career year in Colorado.
His complete stat line of 29 goals and 46 assists with an even rating is appropriate for his $7MM cap hit, although Conroy may have a tough time convincing the 33-year-old can maintain that value for the five seasons remaining on his contract. He’s also played all 164 games in his Flames tenure, staying out of injury and suspension trouble. The latter has plagued him at inopportune times, including back-to-back playoff series with the Maple Leafs in 2018 and 2019.
As a 6’0″ center with some snarl in his game, he should have some suitors on the trade market, even considering his contract. His deal is similarly palatable to the one Elias Lindholm, the top center option on this year’s UFA market, will likely receive, and he’s coming off a highly superior platform season offensively.
Thanks to his aforementioned no-move clause, he does have complete control over his destiny, but with the Flames trending in the wrong direction, it’s feasible that he’d waive it to join a team closer to playoff contention. Even if he sticks around for now, Calgary can trade him later when his NMC downgrades to a 13-team no-trade list in the summer of 2026.
I would think a team like Colorado would love Naz back with some retention but do they have what it takes to get a deal done after the middlestat contract
We don’t have a team yet in this offseason to follow the path of the 2022 Blackhawks and 2023 Sharks. This could finally be the season the Flames draft first overall or at least try hard to do so.
Almost un-tradeable due to age with certain decline in the back half of deal and the cap number.
It’s kind of amazing to me that teams keep giving people these long term deals and the 2 years later are trying to get out from under it. In this League especially, Cap flexibility is key but teams keep giving solid players big deals hoping they become Wayne Gretzky overnight. Kadri is a solid player and worth that money so why dump him? He’s a solid piece and is a winner. What did they expect? It’s really quite amusing the way teams operate sometimes. I mean in Basketball you have 15 players and a 180 million dollar Tax figure and in hockey you have a 22 man roster and an 88 million dollar payroll so whiz it away why don’t you? Wow
Flames are under new management. The last GM signed these contracts.
So at 31 years old they gave him a 7 year contract and didn’t think that would bite them in the a** at some point? What was the thinking process there?
Management is the same GM is gone but the same guys are still giving Craig his marching orders
@bigdaddy that is true, but the orders are different
I think it will take Calgary retaining $2M to get a team to bite on five years for a 33 year old. BUT, I’d see Boston being interested with a prospect and draft pick(s) going the other way. He’d give the Bruins another fringy 1st line center, but his game would play well in Boston and the EC.
Gotta be more retained than $2mil per unless another high priced contract is in included.
The Canes, perhaps in a swap for Kotkaniemi? With retention making it a similar cap charge for each, Calgary gets a younger player to insulate their top 6 who may thrive in a larger role, and the Canes bolster their roster for a deeper run next season. Unsure of Kadri’s worth given he may not fit in every locker room. If he’d fit, maybe some minor draft/prospect capital from Carolina would encourage Calgary to take on decent retention.
Would love for the Kings to explore this if they would retain a bit of salary. Not sure they have enough to give back though. They need the size and snarl.