If the Calgary Flames are out of the playoff race before the March 7 trade deadline, don’t be surprised if GM Craig Conroy shops star center Nazem Kadri.
The Flames have surpassed expectations up to this point with the the quarter mark of the season approaching, going 10-6-3 over their first 19 games. Nazem Kadri is a key reason why, with 10 points on the year.
Kadri may be 34 years of age, but he’s still a stud two-way center with big-game experience, helping the Colorado Avalanche to a Stanley Cup championship in the 2021-22 season. If he hits the trade block, there should be considerable interest.
Calgary’s archrivals, the Edmonton Oilers, stand out as a logical landing spot for Kadri. You might scoff at the idea of the Flames doing business with their provincial foes, but look at last year’s blockbuster trade involving Elias Lindholm to the Vancouver Canucks.
If one of the Flames’ top rivals approached Conroy with an offer he couldn’t refuse, he would surely be open to dealing a difference-maker like Nazem Kadri to Edmonton.
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The Oilers have one of the league’s best 1-2 punches at center with Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. But Adam Henrique (four points in 20 games) has failed to solidify the 3C role.
Edmonton could have used more grit, physicality and scoring depth in their heartbreaking Stanley Cup Final defeat at the hands of the Florida Panthers last year. Someone like Nazem Kadri provides all that, so he should be on their trade wish list if Calgary makes him available.
What Oilers Should Offer Flames For Nazem Kadri
Per PuckPedia, the Oilers have $4.307 million in cap space. They’ll eventually need to clear money when forward Evander Kane (a $5.125 million cap hit) comes off the long-term injured reserve.
Kadri has a $7 million cap hit for four more years after 2024-25. A fair trade would see Kadri to Edmonton (with Calgary eating $1.25 million annually of his salary) in exchange for forward Henrique, Viktor Arvidsson (a $4 million cap hit), defenseman prospect Beau Akey and a a conditional 2026 second-round pick that becomes a first if Edmonton reaches the 2025 Stanley Cup Final.
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