After what felt like a promising 5–1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday, the Calgary Flames’ glimmer of hope was quickly extinguished by Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks with a 4–0 lashing handed to Calgary on home ice Friday Night. It’s trying times in Flames country as roughly 20% of the season has passed with Calgary firmly in the basement.
In 16 games, the team has captured only 10 points, with a 4–10–2 record and only three regulation victories. With the season headed for an almost certain bottom-10 finish, trade speculation heats up as the team cools down. Despite Calgary’s horrific start to the 2025–26 campaign, TSN’s Darren Dreger reported that Flames owner Murray Edwards has no interest in trading away veterans like Nazem Kadri, and “loves the core of this team.”
With that abrupt update hitting everyone’s timelines before the Chicago game, we wanted to know your take on Nazem Kadri. We asked, you answered.
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How have your feelings about tanking changed this season?
We presented the poll below to our readers:
If you were Craig Conroy, how would you handle the Nazem Kadri situation?
— The Win Column (@wincolumnCGY) November 8, 2025
Trade him ASAP
The majority of respondents—roughly 55%—think Craig Conroy and the Flames need to trade Kadri ASAP. The Flames are clearly in a deep hole and are only digging themselves deeper. With a 51-point pace currently, the Flames are on track to finish a full 82-game season with the second-lowest point total since the 2004 lockout behind the 2016–17 Colorado Avalanche (48 points).
I don’t judge, but I’m not seeing the same attractive qualities in this team’s core that have Murray Edwards so deeply in love with it. The Flames’ roster keeps me up at night for different reasons than the organization’s valiant owner.
Nazem Kadri is a valuable player, teammate, competitor, and person to have within an organization. However, with no light at the end of the tunnel currently and Kadri at 35 years old, there may be better opportunities out there for the former Stanley Cup champion to chase another ring. On the flip side, the Flames should start prioritizing 2026 draft capital over 35-year-old forwards. It’s the cold, hard truth that this is the year to hit the jackpot, and the Flames would be silly not to read the writing on the wall.
Moving Kadri now would be a commitment towards the future and a season in which more young talent can be mentored by the likes of Mackenzie Weegar, Mikael Backlund, and Blake Coleman for the time being. Moving out, Kadri certainly leaves a big gap in the locker room and the lineup, but at what point do you stop lying to yourself and say this is better for both of us?
Wait until the deadline
The second most popular response, roughly 35% of fans think that Conroy and the Flames should exercise some patience and wait until the trade deadline. As much as I would like the Flames to commit to a rebuild by trading away their clear-cut number one centre, it may not be the optimal time to maximize their return. Kadri is a seasoned veteran with immense playoff experience. He was pivotal in the Colorado Avalanche’s 2022 Stanley Cup Win, recording 15 points and seven goals, two of which were game winners.
There’s no question teams will be interested in Kadri, and already are. With his current demand and resume in mind, his value will increase as long as his performance is consistent. Kadri leads the Flames in points with 11 in 16 games played. Naz has proven to be one of the best players in the NHL this season at his age, tied for third in league scoring amongst skaters at least 30 years old. His play has been steady with the Flames thus far, and if he can continue to produce and lead the way he has, his price tag will continue to rise into the new year.
I don’t think waiting until the eleventh hour is the right call, but NHL seasons are full of lots of surprises. Maybe the Montreal Canadiens stay hot and want to bring in a veteran centre after the Olympic break? The Utah Mammoth and Anaheim Ducks are hungry for playoff berths while having some salary cap wiggle room. There are plenty of buyers, and some may be more desperate than others. We don’t always have to be the team overpaying for players or trading them at a discount at the deadline. Timing is everything.
Assess in the offseason/Keep him
Roughly 10% of fans think the fans should either assess the Kadri situation in the offseason or keep him regardless. Unlike Andersson, I can see the long-term value in keeping Nazem Kadri around. I do agree that he is maybe the biggest contributor to positive team culture in the last few seasons. Last year, he and Dustin Wolf carried the team to the most points in an NHL regular season without a playoff birth. He’s a great human and a great hockey player; everyone wants him on their team.
If the team could manage to offload players like Andersson, Coleman, and even Huberdeau, Kadri is absolutely a priority to keep around in my eyes, even at his age. However, if the Flames do wait to make this decision, it could cost them dearly. Kadri is a large part of what got the team near the playoffs last season, and they can’t afford to be in the mushy middle again. This has to be the season the Flames commit to the future.
Will Murray change his mind?
In all honesty, I’m fearful for what’s to come, Flames fans. History shows us that when Murray Edwards says something and then follows it up by showing face in the Saddledome, he means it. I hate that Kadri is the guy wrapped up in this because I think we are approaching protest territory. If next week is more of the Chicago performance, and ownership continues to spread playoff propaganda, that’s all, folks. Get ready for another 20-odd years of middling finishes. The only difference will be an accessible arena to watch it take place in.
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