Even postgame, Nazem Kadri couldn’t escape the chirps.
Despite scoring a goal in his 1,000th career NHL game, a 5-1 Flames win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Calgary centre apparently hadn’t won over some of his younger family members.
“Why do you skate so slow?” one asked in the post-game scrum at the Saddledome.
Another chimed in, “Why…do I always see you with a Band-Aid on your hand?”
Eventually, Kadri relented and told his nieces and nephews, “Why don’t you guys ask the questions?”
It was a celebratory locker room following the win, thanks in large part to the on-ice contributions of the 407th player in NHL history to hit the milestone.
“Just lots of distractions here,” a beaming Kadri said, surrounded by the people closest to him. “It’s so nice to have the family around and to experience what I went through today. To have them by my side, that’s what it’s all about. So, it was a really special day for me.”
Kadri had this date circled on his calendar for a long time. Flanked by his wife, daughter, and parents, he received his silver stick from team co-owner Allan Markin ahead of the game, along with a painting, jewelry, and other keepsakes worthy of one of the toughest feats in the sport. He gave his teammates Scotty Cameron putters to mark the occasion. They, in turn, all donned Kadri jerseys during warmups.
“I tried to just soak it in, every single minute,” he said of the day’s festivities. “It’s really full circle. People that started with me are here now…I was a little anxious to drop the puck and just kind of start the game.”
When asked if anything stood out, he said the pregame tribute video that played on the Saddledome jumbotron.
“It almost made me cry, to be honest with you,” he said. “It was tough to hold it together. I’m sure I’ll get a little more emotional about it later, but…just to have my parents on the ice, my wife and daughter and people that have fully supported me.
“…I’m so appreciative for the guys around me just wanting me to maximize how special this day was for me…it was incredible to watch.”
Teammates rallied around Kadri, with both MacKenzie Weegar and Jonathan Huberdeau saying pre-game that they wouldn’t come out flat like they did for captain Mikael Backlund’s 1,000th game last season, a 5-1 loss in Utah.
Kadri did his part, with a goal and four shot attempts. Joel Farabee found him midway through the second period on a two-on-one, and he made no mistake.
“I was sitting on the bench and saying I should have kept my 91 jersey on from warmups,” Farabee joked. “It was one of those plays that it was a forward playing D. I knew I had a really good chance and I saw Naz.”
Head coach Ryan Huska was impressed with Kadri’s hands on the play.
“It was a little bit of patience on Naz’s part to just wait a little bit of time until he had the room up top. It was a nice goal.”
Huska has seen this act countless times from the 35-year-old.
“When the stakes are higher, [in] some way, shape, or form, he shows up,” the coach said.
The night could serve as a rallying point for the Flames, who are now 4-9-2 but have won two in a row. Before Friday’s tilt versus Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks at the Saddledome, however, there are more celebrations for Kadri.
“It was just such a wonderful day, and I can’t thank the Flames organization and fanbase and my teammates enough for such a special day,” he said.
Now he has to figure out where he’ll put the silver stick.
“That’s probably what I was most excited about, getting a hold of that thing,” Kadri said. “It comes with the pattern and everything. It’s actually a replica of my stick. It kind of caught me by surprise how heavy it was. I didn’t realize that…that’s something that’ll be displayed at the Kadri household…right in the centre of my living room.”