Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs trading for Nazem Kadri is a risk for the team based on his reported cost to acquire him from the Calgary Flames.
The Calgary are looking at a move for forward Nazem Kadri, with rumors circulating that the Toronto Maple Leafs are one team that could be a team to contend for their former center in a deal.
Kadri, who was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs 7th overall in 2009 and spent his first ten season with the team, could be a player who makes the move back to his hometown Leafs in a deal as Calgary looks at a potential rebuild.
There’s no certainty that Kadri will be on the move, but there are links that indicate a trade is possible to recoup assets.
Toronto, who is still looking at a potential top-six forward add and has made it clear that is their goal, is believed to be monitoring Kadri and evaluating him as a potential fit on the team, but acquiring the 34-year-old comes with potential risks.
Nazem Kadri Trade Could Be Too Costly For Leafs
While the Toronto Maple Leafs have struggled to add to their top-six since moving on from Mitch Marner and not finding a replacement as of yet, making Kadri the piece to take over comes with uncertainty.Most concerning is Kypreos’ report that Kadri has a high amount of value that could present a challenge to the Toronto Maple Leafs who lack both top prospects and draft picks, with Easton Cowan the only real young asset with high upside in the Leafs system.
Kypreos implies that Flames GM Craig Conroy is looking for a return that matches his value of Kadri, and Cowan comes the closest, and really the best match for Kadri’s value as a 2C.
Kadri is entering the fourth year of a seven-year deal with the Calgary Flames at $7M annually, a contract taking him to his age-38 season in 2029.
The risk of investing so much money into an aging center in Kadri, even with his talent is a tough pill to swallow.
It should also be considered that Kadri faced questions over his work ethic and ability to be a playoff producer.
While Kadri has matured and has a Stanley Cup to show, the same criticisms Marner had this season were latched on to Kadri during his tenure in Toronto.
The Toronto Maple Leafs next season are still waiting to find the right top-six player, who could impact the team’s roster.
The problem is that Nazem Kadri may be too much for the Leafs to afford, or too much for them to be able to give up.
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