As per a “breaking news report” by Kevin Weekes, the Calgary Flames are finalizing a deal to move Sean Monahan in a trade and then subsequently signing UFA Nazem Kadri to a long-term extension. This comes after news that the New York Islanders might have a deal in place to land Kadri. Weekes writes in a Twitter post (that didn’t actually verbally confirm the news). “I’m told the @NHLFlames are working on a potential deal to move C Sean Monahan, and… The @NHLFlames are signing UFA C Nazem Kadri.”
Elliotte Friedman is also confirming the report. Darren Dreger of TSN writes, “Kadri deal to the Flames is being finalized. 7-year deal is believed to be the term.” Friedman was also the first to report financials as it looks like $7 million per season.
Related: Maple Leafs Quick Hits: Malign’s Chances & Sandin’s Negotiations
Nazem Kadri was going to be a free agent worth watching. According to reports, his approach to this year’s free agency was a “free for all”, allowing any teams that wanted to make a pitch for his services to do so. But, as free agency rolled along and Kadri remained unsigned, there were questions about his strategy and whether he judged the market correctly. Was he being picky? Was he waiting for teams to clear money out to fit him on their roster?
As Kadri narrowed down (or saw his options narrowed down for him), the New York Islanders and Colorado Avalanche emerged among the few favorites. Calgary was in the mix, but there was a lingering feeling they didn’t have a shot based on previous rumors he’d turned down a trade there in the past.
The Islanders had done very little over the summer but there was an underlying feeling that GM Lou Lamoriello had some business conducted that he just wasn’t making official. Over the past few days, those talks grew louder with many insiders thinking a deal was imminent. Cleary, those reports turned out to be inaccurate.
What Kadri Will Bring the Flames
Drafted seventh overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2009, Kadri has played 13 years in the NHL with 739 regular-season games under his belt. He had a fantastic 2021-22 season and was positioned well to hit a free agency home run. Throughout his NHL career, he’s been known as a two-way, but very skilled and gritty forward with both the Toronto Maple Leafs and Colorado Avalanche. He really broke out in his contract year, posting 87 points in 71 games. It was a career-best, capped off by a Stanley Cup victory. Kadri has taken heat over the years for being talented, but somewhat of a liability. After winning the Cup, he noted, “for everyone who thought I was a liability in the playoffs, you can kiss my ass.”
Kadri was instrumental in the Avs 2021-22 Stanley Cup Playoff run. He did suffer an injury (broken finger) at the hands of Evander Kane during the Avs’ series with the Edmonton Oilers but still managed to score 15 points in 16 games, including his overtime-winning goal in Game 4 of the Cup Final.
Kadri is known mostly for his mix of skill and physicality. He can drive opponents crazy with his tenacity and he’s got a solid two-way game that makes him the type of player you hate to play against but love to have on your team.
The question now will be can Kadri live up to the expectations that come with what is believed to be a sizeable contract? Prior to this past season, he’s never broken the 61-point marker. 2021-22 could be a sign of things to come, or a one-time anomaly. He is a fairly consistent goal scorer, so even if he doesn’t reach the full production level he did with the Avs, he will still provide some offense and should stay situation in the team’s top six.
Flames Dodge a Massive Bullet
Flames’ GM Brad Treliving came into this offseason with both Johnny Gaudreau and Mathew Tkachuk looking like they were leaving the team (and did). He managed to replace them with Jonathan Huberdeau, Nazem Kadri, and Mackenzie Weegar. It’s an amazing bit of damage control and that he was able to move Monahan’s contract at the same time is frankly quite amazing. Treliving should be given credit for pulling off a complete overhaul of his top stars.
Next: Bruins Almost Finalized Craig Smith Trade, Talks Hit Snag
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