Leading up to the trade deadline, Nazem Kadri of the Calgary Flames remains a speculative trade candidate for contending teams. However, the Montreal Canadiens, who have been frequently linked to Kadri in recent months, have cooled their interest in the former Stanley Cup champion over the last few weeks.
In a new article, Marco D’Amico of RG Media indicates that this perceived lack of interest from Montreal isn’t due to Kadri specifically, but rather to the growing flexibility inside the organization. D’Amico added that the Canadiens believe Oliver Kapanen, who has 17 goals and 30 points in 55 games this season, has become a legitimate top-six option down the middle and that Phillip Danault has stabilized the rest of the center core.
As Montreal approaches the deadline, D’Amico believes that it is far likelier the team will look to add a top-six winger to put next to Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki on the first line. However, pursuing Kadri isn’t completely off the table, either. D’Amico confirmed that the Canadiens are not on Kadri’s no-trade list.
Regardless of Montreal’s internal growth, there are still benefits of adding a player of Kadri’s caliber to a relatively young roster. The 35-year-old center has scored 19 goals and 44 points in 52 games across seven postseason trips, and played an integral part in the Colorado Avalanche’s Stanley Cup title in 2022. However, it’s not difficult to ascertain their lack of urgency. In fact, that lack of urgency may lead to a better price for the Canadiens if Kadri’s market completely bottoms out.
Still, that’s a long shot from Montreal’s perspective. Further down the article, D’Amico suggested that the Carolina Hurricanes, Detroit Red Wings, and Minnesota Wild remain interested in acquiring Kadri in varying degrees. There is no word on whether those teams are on Kadri’s no-trade list.
Is Kadri’s down year a function of an especially bad Calgary team or has he lost a step? He’s been a 30-goal scorer even on bad Calgary teams the last few years.
It’s karma for taking out Binnington in the playoffs. Complete a hole.
Binnington is trash and throws tantrums, not to mention the amount of cheap shots and swinging his stick towards players heads. Shittington is probably the biggest scumbag in the league and his atrocious numbers and being among the worst goalies this year are some things to smile about :)
I tried hard to think of a bigger tool. Couldn’t, in the end.
Cousins comes to mind. He even punches his own players.
Trouba even. He’s an emotional goalie. We get it.
He is NOT going to the Habs!
I am not certain the Habs need to make any deals. Goaltending is the obvious upgrade, but those deals are far and few between. Can you use grade 2C? What price are you going to pay for a limited upgrade over Kappenen. They have Dach, Laine and Textier bunched as 1st line wingers. Hopefully have Newhook coming back. I don’t see any deal significantly upgrading g u less it’s a big Right Shot Dman.
Canadians should go after the Wall kid from Minny. Maybe try and get Tyler Myers from the Canucks for a playoff run.
I’m not saying it would be a one-for-one trade. We would have to give up more than just Wallstedt. But the ONLY way we trade him to Montreal is if Nick Suzuki is involved in the trade. Minnesota only trades Wallstedt if they receive a .75PPG (or higher) Center in return.
Dont see it happening after Montreal just demonstrated why we dont want their goalies in exchange for Wally.
I dont see Wally getting traded unless its for another goalie plus a center and probably picks considering we have no one behind Wally who is NHL caliber or that you would test in the playoffs.
I hope he doesn’t go to the Hurricanes. He doesn’t fit Rod’s system.
Ha! Looking over a few weeks of “news” here, what players haven’t the Wings “been interested in”?? They are keeping their cap pot as full as they can, while they try to get their existing players to play at 100% every game and according the team’s systems. Still trying to grasp the puck control game and game management skills instead of dump ins and dump outs relinquishing control to the opponents. Give aways seem to be creeping back into the play too, putting a lot of heat on goal tending.