The NHL season has started, and the rumor mill is in full swing. And one name that keeps popping up is Calgary Flames center, Nazem Kadri. But let’s pump the brakes for a moment. While the idea of a seasoned, gritty, and skilled center like Kadri being on the market is enough to make any GM salivate, the reality is far more complex. NHL insider Darren Dreger recently called it a “long shot,” and I have to agree.
The Price of Power: Kadri’s Contract and the Overpay Conundrum
First and foremost, any potential suitor would have to pony up a “tremendous overpay” to even get the Flames to listen. And that’s if, and only if, Calgary is out of the playoff picture come March. Kadri isn’t a rental; he’s a long-term investment. At 35, he’s still a valuable asset, but that $7 million AAV through 2028-29 is a significant commitment. Teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, and Montreal Canadiens, who could all desperately use a player of Kadri’s caliber, would have to gut their prospect pool and/or part with significant roster players to make a deal happen. It’s a high price to pay for a player in the back half of his career.
But the real kicker is Kadri’s full no-movement clause. He has complete control over his destiny this season. Come July 1, that clause shifts to a 13-team no-trade list, which gives the Flames a lot more leverage. If a trade is going to happen, it will be in the offseason when Calgary has more options and Kadri has less say. It’s a classic case of waiting for the right moment, and for the Flames, that moment is not now. For now, Nazem Kadri is a Calgary Flame, and I expect him to stay that way for the foreseeable future.
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