Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

As the NHL trade deadline quickly approaches in the next month, there are all sorts of rumors going around the league. Some of them have continued from the offseason, and there is an expectation of a lot of trade action to take place this year.

One of the bigger-named players who is likely to be available this season is veteran center Nazem Kadri of the Calgary Flames. Kadri was on the trade block this summer, but the Flames decided to hold onto him a little longer to see if they could maximize the return.

But one big obstacle for the Flames in any trade talks has been the contract of Kadri, as the veteran is scheduled to be paid $7 million each year. Most teams can’t simply match this number or absorb this into the salary cap, so the Flames may need to retain salary to get a deal done.

However, it remains to be seen if Calgary is even open to this idea, but moving off this contract could help them rebuild for the future. Kadri has been one of the leaders of this franchise for years, but it could be time for the two sides to part ways.

The center remains a strong presence on the ice, even with him having a down year on the offensive side. Overall, he has scored just nine goals and 26 assists over 54 regular-season games played.

Calgary hasn’t been very good this season, and this seems to be playing into the performance of Kadri on the ice. Last year, the veteran was excellent, scoring 35 goals and 32 assists for the Flames, playing in all 82 games of the regular season.

If the Flames do move Kadri, they will likely be asking for the moon. Even with the down season, Kadri has remained one of the more durable players in the NHL, playing in all 82 regular-season games for three straight seasons.

Nazem Kadri Heads to Detroit Red Wings?

According to NHL insider Marco D’Amico of RG, there are three teams showing ‘serious’ interest in going after Kadri at the trade deadline. Among them, D’Amico mentions the Detroit Red Wings, which could make things very interesting in the Eastern Conference the rest of the way.

“Kadri is still expected to draw major interest from contenders as the deadline nears. With Calgary open to retaining salary, teams like Minnesota, Carolina, and Detroit are viewed as serious clubs to watch, and momentum could pick up once the Olympic break passes,” D’Amico wrote.

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Red Wings Trade For Nazem Kadri

With the interest coming from Detroit, a trade for Kadri does make a lot of sense for the Red Wings. This team has missed the playoffs for a decade straight, but the team has put itself into a strong position to break the drought this year.

Adding a talent and leader like Kadri could push the team over the top, and they could be a real problem come playoff time. Kadri has been a proven playoff performer in his career, and the Red Wings could benefit greatly from this.

In 82 total playoff games during his career, Kadri has scored 30 goals and 39 assists, posting a plus/minus rating of +24 and 156 hits. Detroit has big aspirations of a Stanley Cup run this season, and Kadri could be the missing piece to make them a formidable threat in the Eastern Conference.

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