We’re here with another edition of NHL rumours.With Free Agency set to open up in less than 72 hours, phones are buzzing as teams discuss moves to maximize options to acquire top-tier assets on Canada Day. The Calgary Flames are not shying away from doing the same to position themselves better for the 2025-26 season, including taking calls about their top centreman: Nazem Kadri.

This edition of NHL Rumours looks at how the Flames can pivot off a successful year and strategize the summer rodeo of wrangling up players to build up their young squad.

All NHL rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.

NHL Rumours
Teams Are Asking About Nazem Kadri Via Trade

Rumour: Nick Kypreos said that teams have asking about Nazem Kadri and his availability via trade.

Nick Kypreos: Teams have been inquiring about Flames’ Nazem Kadri; Toronto would be one of them – SN 960

— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) June 29, 2025

Analysis: Kadri is set to start year four of his seven-year contract with the Flames, with a cap hit of $7 million per season. The Flames may be re-evaluating Kadri’s role on the team as the crop of young forwards has their eyes set on fighting for a larger role in the main club. As such, reports claim that multiple teams have been looking into acquiring the veteran centreman, including his former club, the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Flames acquired the 34-year-old centreman following his Stanley Cup win with the Colorado Avalanche, during which he posted career numbers — 87 points in just 71 games. However, Kadri has struggled to regain this level of production as Calgary’s top centre.

With just over $19 million in cap space to play around with for free agency, the Flames are likely leaning toward moving larger contracts like Kadri’s to make some big moves, and many teams may be fishing for a two-way centre to anchor their third line.

What can the Flames get for Kadri?

With that said, how can General Manager Craig Conroy sell a key piece of his top line to flip his squad for the better?

The obvious choice would be draft picks. With the 2025 draft this past weekend, the Flames have learned that making off-season moves to build an arsenal of young talent is not a bad thing. However, with a high-value player like Kadri, the Flames could see themselves acquiring some additional talent to develop in their system.

While Dustin Wolf appears to be the de facto starter for them moving forward as a 2025 Calder Trophy runner-up, questions about who will be his backup and goaltending partner are still up in the air as Dan Vladar‘s contract talks seem to have stalled over the past few weeks. A veteran goaltender may be a good anchor for Wolf as the young goalie continues to grow into one of the shining stars of the league.

One of the most valuable upsides of moving Kadri is, of course, the cap space. With some of the top UFAs on the table this summer, the Flames not only free up money to offer any of these players a blank cheque for a season or two in Calgary. More importantly, they give themselves some flexibility as they revisit contract negotiations with current Flames, Rasmus Andersson, Vladar, Anthony Mantha, and Connor Zary.

Main photo by: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images