Video: Nazem Kadri Gets Loud 'Welcome Back' From Avalanche Fans

Sunday, March 08, 2026 , ,

It was the only place he wanted to go if he had to leave Calgary. And on Sunday, Denver fans showed Nazem Kadri the love right back. It was his return to the Colorado Avalanche after the last-second stunning trade at the deadline on Friday. 

While a Welcome Back video played on the Jumbotron during a stoppage in play in their game against the Minnesota Wild, Avalanche fans erupted in a standing ovation, and Kadri saluted them.

The gritty, two-way center was back with the Avs, the team he helped lead to the Stanley Cup title back in 2022. And there were good feelings all around. 

The Avs were never really able to replace what Kadri brought after he left for the Calgary Flames in free agency that summer after the Cup win. But he's back, and they're once again the Cup favorites. 

The former Calgary Flames center immediately made his presence felt, with a stick lift to break up a rush and create a chance at the other end. 

He then set up Nathan MacKinnon for the first goal of the game in the second period. 

The game would go into overtime, after another new Avalanche, Nic Roy, tied it late in the third. Kadri would have a couple of chances in overtime, but in the end it was MacKinnon who won the game for Colorado in a shootout. A huge intra-divisional win. They build an even bigger cushion in the Central, now at 43-10-9, nine points clear of the Dallas Stars in second place (before their game Sunday night), and 11 up on the Wild in third.

Kadri has 12 goals and 42 points in 62 games this season. One point in one game for Colorado. He registered a career-high 35 goals last year.

The 35-year-old is signed through 2028-29 at a $7-million cap hit.

Was he pumped to be coming back to the Avs?

"I think my head almost hit the ceiling, I was so excited." 

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