Just two days after the Calgary Flames traded defenceman Rasmus Andersson to the Vegas Golden Knights, trade chatter is picking up over centre Nazem Kadri.
Speculation has surrounded Kadri for a good chunk of the season and given where the Flames are in the standings, and having already dealt away Andersson, it remains possible Calgary moves Kadri ahead of the March 6 trade deadline if the right deal presents itself.
Kadri, 35, is in the fourth season of a seven-year, $49 million contract and owns a 13-team no-trade list as part of his deal.
With three more years remaining on his contract, some teams are curious if Calgary is willing to retain a portion of his salary to facilitate a move.
During Tuesday’s edition of “Insider Trading” on TSN, Darren Dreger reported the Flames are open to fielding calls for Kadri, but are still not itching to move him.
“Nazem Kadri wants to do what’s best for the Calgary Flames, but he also wants to chase and win a Stanley Cup,” Dreger said. “I would say there’s developing interest. There’s some tire kicking from Toronto, Montreal, Colorado, L.A., maybe the Dallas Stars, but there’s still a lot of work to get done and there’s no rush as far as Calgary’s concerned.”
Kadri currently ranks No.20 on TFP’s Trade Watch List.
The Flames have other players teams are targeting, including forwards Ryan Lomberg, who is in the final year of his deal, and Blake Coleman, who has one more season left on his contract after this one, but Kadri is considered the prized possession.
In 49 games with the Flames so far this season, Kadri has registered nine goals and 25 assists for 34 points.