In yesterday’s rendition of Insider Trading on TSN, the crew, particularly Darren Dreger, discussed Nazem Kadri‘s future with the Calgary Flames. According to Dreger, Kadri is more than happy playing out the rest of his contract with the Flames, but would welcome the idea of being traded to a contender if the opportunity presented itself.
Kadri’s name has been floated as a potential trade candidate since last summer. Despite having four years left on a $7MM salary, the 35-year-old former Stanley Cup champion saw his full no-movement clause turn into a 13-team no-trade list this season. Theoretically, the Flames have 18 teams they could trade Kadri to without his approval, but they may be treating him the same way the Nashville Predators are treating veteran center Ryan O’Reilly.
Although he’s been the first-line center for Calgary this season, Kadri is better used as a second-line middleman on a true contender. Much like he did with the Colorado Avalanche in the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs, Kadri played a significant role in Colorado’s quest for the Stanley Cup, scoring seven goals and 15 points in 16 games, his last time in the postseason.
Outside of a relatively tepid output during his first year in Alberta, Kadri has been one of the team’s top performers since. Since the beginning of the 2023-24 campaign, Kadri has registered 72 goals and 174 points in 208 games, averaging 19:04 of ice time per game.
Furthermore, his underlying metrics haven’t declined as he enters the twilight years of his career. He’s remained consistently solid in the faceoff dot, and has continued to average north of a 50.0% CorsiFor% at even strength despite playing on a mostly non-competitive team in Calgary.
Fortunately for Kadri, there are a few competitive teams that could use his services this season and beyond. Although being a “true contender” is a relatively subjective term, for the sake of argument, we’ll choose from the top-5 teams in the league standings at the time of writing.
A return to Colorado doesn’t make much sense given the lack of cap space and contributions from Brock Nelson this season, and the same holds for the Dallas Stars and Roope Hintz. Still, of the three remaining teams from the group, Kadri would make sense for all of them.
The Minnesota Wild don’t have too much center depth, especially after moving Marco Rossi to the Vancouver Canucks. Although Logan Stankoven has played relatively well down the middle for the Carolina Hurricanes this year, he may be best suited to play on Kadri’s wing if he were to be traded to Raleigh. Meanwhile, the Montreal Canadiens have been one of the most outspoken landing spots for nearly every second-line center on the market.
Given the current demand for a second-line center, the Flames should be able to recoup a haul for Kadri if they decide to move him this season. Still, unlike other potential options, Kadri’s price tag is unlikely to drop even if Calgary doesn’t move him by March. He’s signed through the 2028-29 season, so the Flames aren’t under a time crunch by any means.
Can’t blame him. I would say I’d like my Kings to trade for him, but the last thing we need is another older player
Well with his age and 50/50 Face off ability maybe not. But if we can get him and Andersson and they take back Moore & Ceci as part of a bigger deal!
Now we’re talking! If that’s gonna happen, we’ll need to get rid of someone big, like Clarke or Laffy, or a first rounder and a top tier prospect. Pretty risky, considering Kadri’s age and Andersson not wanting to sign long-term with us (since he already rejected a trade to us over the offseason despite our offer being great). If we’re garunteed an extension, you got yourself a deal!
I’m curious what the trade was. I did not hear about it
If Kadri was 3 years younger I would make the move in a heart beat but I don’t want to give 7 mill to a 35 year old player for the next four years . I don’t care who his is.
Clarke Byfield and Laffy are untouchable. Holland would never move those three.
The prospect pool is eeeh the issue is all our top prospects are goaltenders and the Flames are set in net for the next few years. So that’s out. Greentree maybe but he is gonna be needed sooner rather than later.
We have a good amount of cap space and more coming. If Clarke will take a bridge deal till the end of the Doughty contract we will be in amazing shape.
The problem is how thin the market is with all the players cashing in with their current teams before the 8-7 down to 7-6.
I love this team. I hope we can just get a couple of guys that can score.
Kadri is better as a high end 2, rather than a 1…BUT he’d be the closest the Wild have had to a top center since Koivu.
Guerin should kick those tires hard.
Kadri is poor defensively, and it’s getting worse with age. His oiSV% has gone down steadily from .932 in his first year to .891 this season.
His -16 is the 3rd worst on the team. Last year his -17 was 2nd worst.
Bottom line: he’ll cost you more GA than whatever he’s going to score. Guerin should stay away and he will.
The Flames should trade Kadri, Anderson and Coleman before the break. They need a haul for those 3. Then bottom out for a top 3 pick.
Anderson, Coleman and a 2nd for Jason Robertson, Lundkvist
As a Stars fan I would go for that
I’m thinking Conroy wants to make a few trades. The sound-bite earlier in the season from the President, kind of kills that. “We need more Kadri’s, not less”. Maloney handcuffs Conroy. Kadri and Coleman should be following Andersson, but if it was up to Maloney…they would even sign Andersson to an 8 year contract. The Flames need to take advantage of their assets now, before they get hurt.
May already be too late…
Nice name but too old for the Hawks. Hawks should be looking for a guy like this but around 27 or 28. 30 at the max. He’s just too old right now. Somebody can surely use him. Good luck!