Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

As the NHL prepares for a roster freeze before the Winter Olympics take place, there are trade rumors flying all over the place. Many of them have continued into the season from the summer, and we could be in for a wild trade deadline next month.

*PREDICTION*

One of the bigger names who could be on the move this year is veteran center Nazem Kadri of the Calgary Flames. With Calgary wanting to retool the roster, there has been a lot of speculation around the team potentially moving him.

Kadri has been a cornerstone player for Calgary over the past few years, but it feels like it’s time for the two sides to part. However, there is one big issue in any Kadri trade, and that is his contract.

The veteran is scheduled to be paid $7 million each year, being on the books for three more seasons past 2025-26. The majority of teams around the NHL can’t easily make a deal of this number work, so there will need to be some creativity taking place to get a trade done.

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. Kadri may be one of the few players who could really change the overall identity of a team, especially due to his consistency on the ice.

Even with a down year so far, Kadri has still produced decently for Calgary, scoring 10 goals and 27 assists, playing in 55 games. The Flames have been fairly poor this season, and this could be contributing to the struggles that the veteran has seen.

But just a year ago, Kadri was incredible, scoring 35 goals and 32 assists for the Flames, playing in all 82 games of the regular season. This marked the third straight season that the center had appeared in every game of the season, showing off some nice durability.

If the Flames do move Kadri, they will likely be asking for a lot, but there are a few teams who may be willing to pay the price. With over a month left, it remains to be seen if Kadri will be traded, but his time in Calgary feels very short-lived either way.

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Nazem Kadri Sent to Toronto Maple Leafs

One team that has shown interest in Kadri previously has been the Toronto Maple Leafs, and they could look to him again. Toronto has struggled mightily out of the gates this year, and this team is in need of a major boost.

After losing star Mitch Marner in free agency last summer, the Maple Leafs decided to replace him with a bunch of grinders, and it has backfired on the team. Toronto currently sits out of a playoff spot, and if they aren’t careful, the team will end up missing the playoffs entirely.

But if they could add a talent like Kadri, it may be the spark that this organization needs. Kadri was with the Maple Leafs years ago, and there have been rumors of his return for some time now.

Toronto could use his leadership, but also his ability to generate scoring chances for himself and others on the roster. This move would also be made with the playoffs in mind, as Kadri is a proven player performed throughout his career.

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. All in all, Toronto has to get things jump-started in the last part of the season, and Kadri could be the perfect player to help get this team going.

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