Uplifting Update: The Calgary Flames are in another rut, losers of three straight. We’re getting closer to the day when the team finally has no choice but to admit they’re not a serious contender this season. At that point, they have some well-sought-after trade candidates. Not the least of which is Nazem Kadri.
We’ve heard all season long, however, that the gritty, two-way center is happy in Calgary and isn’t thinking about moving on. But that may be about to change.
According to insider Darren Dreger on TSN’s Insider Trading, a Kadri move is not out of the question.
If an opportunity was presented to go to a top contender in the NHL, then he’d be willing to listen to that. I mean, the man is 35 years old, and he wants to win a Stanley Cup.
Of course, Kadri has already had a taste from Lord Stanley’s mug, leading the Colorado Avalanche to the holy grail back in 2022. But he hasn’t been back in the playoffs since then, as the Flames have missed out on the big dance in each of his four years there. Kadri signed a seven-year, $7 million AAV free agent contract with Calgary in the summer of 2022, while still riding his Stanley Cup high.
Is he going to ask for a trade? Dreger doesn’t feel that’s particularly in the cards.
“He’s not going to push it, but… the intensity around Kadri is definitely heating up.”
Kadri has a 13-team no-trade list, and has three years to run after this one on his deal.
The 17-year veteran is coming off a career-best 35 goals last season, though this year, he’s had a slow first half with just eight goals and 32 points in 43 games. But he still brings that competitive, hard-nosed, aggressive style, making him a pain in the butt to play against.
As a playoff performer, he’d be an invaluable addition to any team with championship aspirations. In his two long playoff runs with the Avalanche, he totaled 16 goals and 33 points in 31 games with a +10 rating.
In 1,028 career regular-season games,Flames Kadri has 315 goals and 427 assists for 742 points.
