We are back with the latest and greatest of NHL Rumours, even if it is during the slow time of the year. For today’s edition, we travel to the home of the great Calgary Stampede and the hockey team the Flames. In a case of one thing leads to another, the Flames might have a forward available.
NHL Rumours: If One Defenceman Moves, an Important Centre May Become Available
Rumour: For our specific rumour, we will use the discussion from the Vancouver-based Sekeres and Price podcast. To summarize, if Rasmus Andersson is moved, maybe Nazem Kadri will follow him out of town.
Analysis: In a break from the usual, a major part of this storyline comes from Kadri himself. A bit refreshing to hear from a star humbling himself.
“I mean, there’s not a whole lot in terms of sports going on right now,” he said at a Nazem Kadri Charity Golf Classic in an interview with the Knight Shift. “I think it’s definitely a topic to talk about. And hey, why not talk about it?”
Even though with a comment like this, there had already been rumours swirling for sometime. In general, the Calgary Flames are an interesting case. They were so close, trying to revive the Battle of Alberta, a team that was at the salary cap ceiling. However, within a couple months, back to the 2024 trade deadline timeline, they had shifted to salary cap basement floor dwellers. Today, they stand as a team in flux. They have definitely been going through a retooling, but could we call it a full rebuild? The idea here is, if the Rasmus Andersson trade rumours turn out to be true and he is traded, it would be logical that Kadri would follow him out the door. In other words, a full rebuild.
As it stands, Kadri has a full no-movement clause for the upcoming 2025-26 campaign. In addition, there are four years left at $7 million per season. He will be 38 upon expiry of his current deal. Still his game as a skilled player, a second-line centre, and a competitor, make him extremely valuable, for the right fit.
Where Could Kadri Be a Fit?
The podcasters go on to mention the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens as potential landing pads. There’s one good reason the Leafs make sense, besides the fact that Kadri used to play for the team. Many feel as though there are probably unfinished business between the Leafs and him. He’s often been mentioned as the type of player that the Leafs have been missing from their lineup, especially when it comes to playoff-time. Also, there is the connection with general manager Brad Treliving, as he was in Calgary previously. In fact, he was there when the Flames signed Kadri back in the summer of 2022.
Montreal makes a lot of sense as well. They are looking to boost their second-line centre spot. Kadri would do exactly that for the Habs. In any sense, between the Flames organizational direction, Kadri’s desire to win, and teams wanting someone of his calibre, it is aligning that Kadri could very well be out the door, to a place of his choosing.
Main Photo Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images