Calgary Flames

Flames’ Kadri Willing to Consider Change: Trade on the Table

According to one NHL insider, Nazem Kadri would be open to the idea of a trade, if the Calgary Flames can find the right destination.

by
NHL Trade Talk
January 9, 2026

Nazem Kadri may be content in Calgary, but the door to a potential trade is opening. According to one NHL insider, Kadri would be open to the idea of a trade, assuming the Calgary Flames can find the right destination for him to go to.

Speaking on Insider Trading, TSN’s Darren Dreger reported that while Kadri is happy with the Flames, he would be willing to listen if an opportunity arose to join a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. At 35 years old, Kadri only has so much time left to get back into the mix when it comes to winning it all. And, Dreger notes that winning matters to the veteran forward. He’s not forcing his way out, but as Dreger put it, the “intensity around Kadri is definitely heating up.”

Nazem Kadri comments on the Flames playoff hopes: NHL Trade Talk — Nazem Kadri open to a trade that has him with a contender: NHL Trade Talk

Kadri has three years remaining on his contract after this season, carries a $7 million cap hit through 2028–29, and owns a 13-team no-trade list—factors that complicate any deal, but don’t eliminate the possibility.

He’s coming off a career-best 35-goal campaign last season, even if his production has dipped this year with eight goals and 32 points in 43 games.

Kadri Would Be a Perfect Fit For Several Cup Contenders

What Kadri is known for is his mix of skill and fiestiness. Kadri remains a hard-nosed, emotional driver who’s miserable to play against and built for playoff hockey. His postseason track record backs that up: 16 goals and 33 points in 31 playoff games during deep runs with Colorado, including a Stanley Cup.

For Flames GM Craig Conroy, he’s been hesitant to suggest he’s shopping Kadri. The Flames have teetered on the edge of a retool//rebuild without coming right out and saying they’re going that direction. In fact, publicly, they’ve suggested they don’t want to go there. But, as offers come up and the Flames have an opportunity to do right by their players and get solid returns, Conroy has to be weighing his options.

With premium centers like Kadri always in demand, the question isn’t whether there’s interest. It’s how much the Flames can get and whether Kadri is willing to wait in a rebuilding situation before deciding he’d like to be moved.

Next: Insider Doubles Down On Boone Jenner Being An Oilers Trade Deadline Target