Insider Drops Latest on Nazem Kadri Trade Rumors, & Maple Leafs' Chances at Landing Him

Could Nazem Kadri become a trade piece this season?

There were rumors around the trade deadline surrounding Nazem Kadri and the Calgary Flames, and though they were put to bed at that time, they surfaced again briefly this offseason. But insider Darren Dreger of TSN, speaking on First Up on Friday, dropped the latest on Kadri's availability: there isn't any.

The truth is, Nazem Kadri isn't available. I'm not saying that he won't be available (as the season goes along), but let's see how things go in Calgary. He likes it in Calgary... But a lot can change between now and the trade deadline.
I hear the speculation, I've investigated the interest: if the player were ever available, of course, Toronto would be interested.

But the problem, says Dreger, is, "What are you giving up?" if you're the Leafs. "How do you acquire Nazem Kadri from the Caglary Flames?

"Again, a capital I-F...IF Kadri were made available by (Flames GM) Craig Conroy, they're not just making him available to the Toronto Maple Leafs. When I look around the National Hockey League and all the teams that are looking for a top-six forward—man, there'd be a bidding war."

Would the Leafs actually be able to compete in that type of bidding war in a trade offer scenario? After dealing off yet another first-rounder at this past year's trade deadline, they now don't have a first-round pick until 2028. And they don't have their second-rounder next year either. The prospect cupboard isn't exactly overflowing, either.

"So now you look at what Toronto has available in terms of tradeable assets," says Dreger. "It gets real tricky, and it gets really thin in a hurry. Easton Cowan? That's not enough."

Despite all of those in Leafs Nation who would want to see a Kadri Redux in Toronto, it doesn't seem too realistic at this point.

Kadri, 34, had a career-high 35 goals this past season, and 67 points in 82 games. He has 307 career goals and 710 points in 985 games. He's been an All-Star twice, and was a key cog in the Colorado Avalanche's run to the Stanley Cup in 2022.