One of the most monumental offseasons in the history of the Calgary Flames was in 2022, as former Colorado Avalanche Stanley Cup-winning forward Nazem Kadri agreed to join the franchise on a seven-year contract.
His addition was one of multiple changes made to the Flames’ roster, which also included the loss of the late Johnny Gaudreau, who signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets in free agency, along with the trade of Matthew Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers in exchange for Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar.
However, the Flames have failed to advance to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of the last three seasons, intensifying speculation that changes could be in store with regard to the roster.
Could Nazem Kadri Soon Be Targeted By Other Clubs For The Addition Of A Top-Six Center?
Sportsnet writer Michael Amato suggested in a recent article that Kadri could be the ideal trade target for teams looking to bolster their depth at the center position while also adding valuable Stanley Cup-winning experience.
“There’s a massive demand for top-six centres right now, and the Flames have one in Nazem Kadri,” Amato wrote. “Some teams may be scared off by Kadri’s age and contract, though, with the cap rising, it should be easier for a team to absorb his deal. Kadri, 34, still has four years remaining at $7 million per season, but with some retention, they could get a decent haul in return given how many centre-needy teams there are. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that Kadri scored a career-high 35 goals last season on a Calgary squad that had a hard time finding the back of the net. He can still play at a high level and he may be willing to waive his no-move clause for the right situation.”
Kadri’s tenure with the Flames has been successful for him, as he’s had seasons of 24, 29, and 35 goals, respectively. He’s been one of their most consistent producers, and if they were to part ways with him in a trade, they could expect a considerable return that could include both prospects and draft capital.
The seventh overall selection of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Kadri played the first 10 seasons of his NHL career with the franchise before being traded to the Colorado Avalanche on July 1, 2019. He would later help the Avalanche to their first Stanley Cup win since 2001 in 2022, scoring seven goals with eight assists during the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs.