NHL Trade Rumors: Insider Provides Big Update On Flames' Nazem Kadri
According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, it would take a “tremendous overpay” for the Flames to even consider moving Kadri before the March trade deadline.
Dreger mentioned on the Barn Burner Podcast that while several teams could use Kadri, including the Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, and Montreal Canadiens, Calgary remains firm on keeping him unless their playoff hopes completely fade.
Has there been a Flames player who had more highlight reel plays in one season than Nazem Kadri in 24-25?
— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) August 2, 2025
He was incredible 🔥 pic.twitter.com/JQrQ4kYnlH
Flames Set Steep Price for Nazem Kadri Trade
Kadri, 35, still produces at a steady pace, recording 67 points in 82 games last season after posting 76 the year prior.
His playoff resume and Stanley Cup-winning pedigree with Colorado in 2022 make him an attractive target for contenders seeking a two-way center with experience under pressure. However, his $7 million AAV through the 2028-29 season and full no-movement clause complicate any deal before July 1, when it converts to a 13-team no-trade list.
That timeline could be the more realistic window for Flames GM Craig Conroy to explore serious offers.
Nazem Kadri met up with seven-time Olympic medalist Andre De Grasse at the National Bank Open in Toronto! 🎾
— NHL (@NHL) August 8, 2025
(📸: @De6rasse) pic.twitter.com/PVnx3oxoq8
The Toronto Maple Leafs have been the most frequently mentioned team given Kadri’s history with the franchise, but Dreger’s update suggests that any reunion, or trade elsewhere, would require a massive return.
The Canucks and Canadiens could make financial sense, with Montreal’s surplus of young assets (like Kirby Dach, Jayden Struble, or Joshua Roy) giving them potential leverage. Still, as Dreger noted, the Flames are unlikely to move their veteran leader unless their playoff aspirations collapse, and even then, it won’t come cheap.
Photo Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
