The Colorado Avalanche are putting together a truly remarkable season.<\/p>\n
Through 69 games, they have 102 points and sit comfortably atop the NHL standings. They lead the league<\/a> in both goals scored and goals allowed showcasing a balance that most fanbases dream of having.<\/p>\n And yet, there\u2019s a flaw. For all their firepower and elite talent, the Avalanche have one of the worst power plays in the league, sitting 30th at just 16.5 percent.<\/p>\n It\u2019s the kind of stat that doesn\u2019t quite make sense when you look at the names on the roster. But even great teams have something to fix.<\/p>\n Kadri Returns to a Familiar Contender<\/p>\n That\u2019s where management stepped in. Despite already looking like a Stanley Cup favorite, Colorado made one of the biggest moves of the trade deadline by bringing back Nazem Kadri<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Avalanche reacquired Kadri from the Calgary Flames, along with a 2027 fourth-round pick, in exchange for Victor Olofsson, prospect Max Curran, a conditional first-round pick in 2028, and a conditional second-round pick in 2027. Calgary also retained 20 percent of Kadri\u2019s $7 million cap hit, making the deal even more appealing for a team already stacked with talent.<\/p>\n Kadri\u2019s return feels like a reunion that was always meant to happen.<\/p>\n He was a key piece of Colorado\u2019s 2022 Stanley Cup<\/a> run, bringing edge, skill, and emotion to a lineup that needed exactly that. After leaving in free agency, he spent almost four entire seasons in Calgary, where he scored 99 goals and 139 assists in 307 games, but never returned to the playoff stage.<\/p>\n Now, he\u2019s back where he last played meaningful spring hockey, and inside the Avalanche locker room, his impact was noticed immediately.<\/p>\n Kadri talked to the panel about being traded and playing on a line with MacKinnon! \ud83d\udd25 pic.twitter.com\/MjHIxrVFPp<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 NHLonTNT (@NHL_On_TNT) March 11, 2026<\/a>Makar on Kadri\u2019s Energy and Swagger<\/p>\n Cale Makar didn\u2019t hesitate when asked about what it\u2019s like having Kadri back:<\/p>\n “Its unreal. There’s so many words you can use to describe him. Such a bubbly guy though, he’s always talking and very outgoing, so he’s a great presence in the room and he fits in seamlessly. He’s already coming in, and he’s running things, talking to guys, asking about plays and things, so very engaged, and it’s awesome to see.”<\/p>\n Kadri doesn\u2019t just play the game \u2014 he injects energy into it. The \u201cbubbly\u201d personality Makar describes shows up in practices, in meetings, and on the bench. Makar then expanded on that idea when asked about Kadri\u2019s swagger:<\/p>\n “Yeah, swagger\u2019s a good word. I feel like I use that a lot for him, so I\u2019m trying to find something else because I use it every time, but he\u2019s got that little \u2014 it’s not the overarching kind of too much swagger \u2014 but he\u2019s got it where guys are gonna trust him to do his job. And like I said, he\u2019s kind of got that impact where he just comes in and fits in right away.”<\/p>\n Kadri is the kind of player teammates trust in big moments, not because he demands the spotlight, but because he always has their back no matter what.<\/p>\n Hey @Avalanche<\/a> fans, Nazem Kadri is back! <\/p>\n On a scale of 1-10, how excited are you?! #NHLTradeDeadline<\/a> <\/p>\n Top Plays presented by @Enterprise<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/q5Wg1QvcUp<\/a><\/p>\n