Calgary Flames

Nazem Kadri to the Canadiens Will Never Happen

Montreal keeps getting linked to Nazem Kadri, but the fit just isn’t there. Here’s why the Canadiens aren’t likely to bite on a deal.

by
Old Prof
February 3, 2026

Nazem Kadri’s name keeps drifting back into the Montreal conversation, and it’s happened recently again. Marco D’Amico’s note that Kadri would approve a move to the Canadiens gave people something new to chew on. However, that’s just one piece of the puzzle. A trade takes two sides, and right now, there’s not much pointing to Montreal being all that interested.

The Canadiens’ Need Isn’t What It Used to Be

If this were a few months ago, you could make a real case for Kadri sliding into the Canadiens’ second-line centre role. He would’ve brought experience, some scoring touch, and a steady hand down the middle. But Oliver Kapanen has changed the picture.

Kapanen has stepped in, played well, and found chemistry with Ivan Demidov and Juraj Slafkovsky. That line has grown together fast, and it’s taken some of the urgency out of hunting for a veteran centre. The job isn’t vacant now — and it doesn’t feel shaky, either.

Montreal’s Playing a Longer Game

Another thing working against a Kadri deal is the Canadiens’ timeline. This isn’t a team trying to squeeze out one last push before their Stanley Cup window closes. It’s a young team that’s ahead of schedule and slowly building toward something bigger.

Sure, the Canadiens would love to go far this season. That said, they’re not in a rush, and they don’t need to be. Skipping steps for a short-term boost doesn’t fit how they’ve been operating under Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton.

Kadri is among a list of NHL forwards in early trade talk — Nazem Kadri of the Calgary Flames has had his name come up in trade rumours.

Kadri’s Contract Is a Roadblock

Kadri is still a useful player, but the contract is the catch. He’s 35 and carries a $7 million cap hit until the end of the 2028–29 season. That’s a long stretch of cap commitment during years when Montreal will need room for their young core. They’ve worked hard to keep their books clean. Taking on a deal with that kind of term is a big decision, and it works against everything they’ve been trying to build.

There’s no denying Kadri still brings value. He can play in any situation, has playoff experience, and is competitive. But he’s the kind of player a team adds when they’re close to contending — not when they’re still assembling the foundation.

The Most Likely Outcome Is No for Kadri in Montreal

Kadri may be willing. Calgary may be listening. But the Canadiens’ side of the conversation just doesn’t line up.

They like their young centers; they like their direction, and they like keeping their future open. If Kadri moves, it’ll probably be to a team that needs him right now — not one that’s still growing toward its future.