The trade winds are howling in Alberta. As the Calgary Flames continue their disastrous freefall to start the season, the conversation is already shifting from “if” they will be sellers to “when.” And the name at the top of every insider’s list is veteran center, Nazem Kadri.
Let’s not sugarcoat the situation in Calgary. As of today (October 26, 2025), the Flames are sitting at a dismal 1-7-1 record, anchored to the bottom of the league. This isn’t just a slow start; it’s a catastrophe. The team can’t score, and the losses are piling up. When this happens, management’s eyes turn immediately to their most valuable, movable assets.
Enter Nazem Kadri. On a struggling team, Kadri is one of the few bright spots, posting 5 points (1 goal, 4 assists) in the first 9 games. He’s a proven, tough, productive second-line center—exactly the kind of player every single Stanley Cup contender will be desperate for in a few months.
The chatter, as confirmed by NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, is very real. But there are two crucial factors at play that every fan needs to understand.
The Two Factors Dictating a Kadri Trade: A Milestone and a Contract Clause
First, as Friedman noted, there is a “zero chance” Kadri is moved before he plays his 1,000th career regular-season game. He currently sits at 994. From an expert perspective, this is purely a respect-and-logistics move. No general manager wants the terrible PR of trading a respected veteran just days before a massive career milestone. This puts a temporary pause on any real action. He will hit that 1,000-game mark in about six games, which lands us in mid-November.
That’s when the real negotiations begin.
The second, and far more critical, piece of information is the change in his contract. Kadri’s full no-movement clause (NMC) has expired. It has now reverted to a 13-team no-trade list. This is a seismic shift. It means the Flames organization, not Kadri, holds the power. They can now negotiate with the other 19 teams in the league without needing his permission.
This opens the market up completely. While a deal could happen in December, my analysis is that the Flames will wait. As the team’s playoff hopes officially flatline by the New Year, they will wait for the NHL trade deadline desperation to set in, maximizing their return. The 1-7-1 start has sealed their fate as sellers, and Kadri is, without a doubt, their number one trade chip.
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