Nazem Kadri isn’t just another center. He’s the spark for any team in pursuit of identity, grit, and success.
With the Calgary Flames, Kadri has delivered reliability. Signed to a seven-year, $49 million contract in the summer of 2022, he has played all 82 games in each of his first three seasons with the team, underscoring his durability and commitment.
There has also been statistical excellence, as evidenced by the career-high 35 goals Kadri scored last season. The year before, he finished with 75 points, the second-highest total since Kadri was the No. 7 overall pick by Toronto in the 2009 draft.
And let’s not forget the leadership aspect. One of the elder statesmen in the Calgary dressing room, Kadri, who turns 35 in early October, has proven to be an invaluable mentor for some of the younger players like Connor Zary and Martin Pospisil.
“That’s what makes Naz, Naz,” said Calgary head coach Ryan Huska.
“He’s been known to be an agitator and a worker and that’s what we’ve gotten from him. I think he’s taken it to another level because the guys he’s playing with, he feels a sense of responsibility in helping to bring them along. He puts a little more pressure on himself to make sure he’s at the right place to show his linemates how he has to be each night, so he’s been really good for us that way.”
Nazem Kadri Would Bring Montreal a Second-Line Center to Boost Playoff Hopes
Kadri is also one of those players who finds a way to step up even bigger when the stakes get higher. Coaches swear by his clutch DNA, the raw instinct that brings up his level when everything’s on the line. That ability to rise – on the power play, in overtime, when rookies or veterans look to him for a cue – is worth its weight in gold.
It would certainly be welcomed by a Montreal Canadiens squad searching for a second-line center to boost their playoff hopes, particularly with the uncertainties surrounding Kirby Dach.
It’s already been an interesting offseason for the Canadiens, with the blockbuster trade for defenseman Noah Dobson, as well as the acquisition of talented young winger Zachary Bolduc. Picking up a center like Kadri would be the icing on the cake.
According to Kuljit Parmar of the FanSided blog “A Winning Habit,” he may just have the recipe to make that happen.
Trade Pitch Lands Nazem Kadri for Alex Newhook & Juraj Slafkovsky
Citing recent rumors that Calgary may be open to trading Kadri, Parmar laid out a vision of what the London, Ontario, native could deliver in Montreal, and in his view, Kadri is the kind of player who could slide seamlessly into head coach Martin St. Louis’ system.
Parmar touted Kadri as a rare blend of grit, guile, and scoring touch, a Stanley Cup–winning spark plug – charismatic enough to energize the fan base, fiery enough to lift his teammates – with a knack for swinging momentum with speed, size, and well-timed penalties that put his team in position to strike. The fact that Kadri grew up a Montreal Canadiens fan doesn’t hurt, and it helps explain why reports indicate that Montreal and Toronto are the teams that Kadri would be willing to drop his no-trade clause to facilitate a move.
Parmar suggested that a package of center Alex Newhook, winger Juraj Slafkovsky and a draft pick could be enough to acquire Kadri. Calgary would be getting a young replacement for Kadri, along with a 21-year-old winger and former No. 1 overall draft pick who has already proven to be a 20-goal scorer.
If Montreal is serious about making the leap from a promising roster to a legitimate contender, a move like this should definitely be explored. Kadri isn’t a long-term project or a hope-for-the-best gamble. He’s a proven winner with the snarl to rattle opponents, the skill to bury them, and the leadership to drag a team through the toughest stretches of a season.
Adding Kadri to a group already retooled with Dobson and Bolduc would immediately turn the Canadiens into a team that opponents dread seeing in April. If Calgary really is willing to listen, Montreal has every reason to make that call and every reason to believe Kadri could be the final piece that changes everything.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Canadiens Add Cup-Winning Grit in Trade Pitch That Could Redefine Their Season appeared first on Heavy Sports.