With a Stanley Cup pedigree, gritty two-way center Nazem Kadri will be in demand when rosters are unfrozen after the Olympics and trades can resume up to the March 6th deadline.Â
There have been a number of playoff contenders commonly linked to the Calgary Flames‘ tenacious pivot this season, including the Montreal Canadiens, and Central Division rivals, the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars. But when it comes to projecting a landing spot for Kadri, James Mirtle of The Athletic is going with another top contender in the Central, the Minnesota Wild. He calls them a “team with an obvious gap down the middle that a savvy veteran could help to fill.”
The Wild have been excellent since their huge swing on Quinn Hughes, but they know they need another pivot to get out of the Central given the Avs’ and Stars’ depth. Kadri has been there and won before, with Colorado in 2022, and would fit in well with any of Minnesota’s big-shooting wingers. He plays on both sides of the puck and elevates in big moments.
Wild GM Bill Guerin has made it clear he’s not sitting on his laurels after the Hughes blockbuster, and we should expect another big move before they’re done putting the finishing touches on their roster for a potential big playoff run.
Minnesota has plenty of cap space at the moment, enough to absorb Kadri’s $7 million salary (with three more years to run).Â
The team was forced to deal center Marco Rossi in the Quinn Hughes trade, and has been looking at adding an impact center ever since. Kadri would certainly fit the bill and ramp up the team’s postseason readiness.
When play picks up after the Olympics, the Wild will try to extend their five-game win streak and maintain their lead on the Stars for second place in the division (currently just a single point separates the teams), while targeting the Avs, five points up in first place.Â
Photo: © Walter Tychnowicz-Imagn Images