The Calgary Flames nearly made the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season. And they had the goal of taking that next step this year. Unfortunately, Nazem Kadri and his teamamtes have not gotten off to a great start. And it could lead to some major changes.
Veterans such as Rasmus Andersson have been involved in trade rumors. To be fair, Andersson’s rumors date back to the summer. However, the noise has only grown louder as the team’s poor start continues.
They have lost seven straight games after defeating the Edmonton Oilers to begin the year. And they are only one point clear of the winless San Jose Sharks for last in the Pacific Division. It’s a horrible start anyway you slice it.
Andersson’s name will circulate in trade rumors no matter what. But he is not alone in the rumor mill. Discussions around Kadri are also picking up, according to The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta.
“Kadri, 35, is in the fourth season of a seven-year, $49 million contract. He owns a full no-movement clause, which shifts to a 13-team no-trade list next season,” Pagnotta wrote.
“The native of London, Ontario, is no stranger to trade chatter, as his name has popped up each of the last two off-seasons and is starting to make the rounds again, primarily due to Calgary’s poor start.”
Nazem Kadri Will Certainly Draw Trade Interest
Derek Cain/Getty ImagesCalgary Flames star Nazem Kadri is once again the center of trade discussion.
The logic behind keeping Kadri made a ton of sense. Calgary came within a tiebreaker of making the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Trading your best skater when you can realistically make the postseason in 2025-26 is a tough sell to the locker room and fanbase.
However, it’s important to note that he wasn’t retained due to a lack of interest. Teams across the league are desperately searching for top-six center depth. Kadri is one of the best on the market, and he’s signed long-term. Teams were undoubtedly calling about him throughout the summer.
Those same conditions exist early in the season. If Kadri is made available, then teams around the league will put in their calls. What comes of those calls certainly remains to be seen. But he should be in demand if he becomes available this season.
Flames Still Mulling Potential Rebuild, Retool
Calgary won’t trade Kadri for no reason, of course. Andersson could be moved because he’s a free agent at the end of this season. And it does not appear as if he’s going to re-sign. Kadri is signed long-term, as Pagnotta pointed out.
The Flames star won’t be traded unless the team commits to a full rebuild. At this time, this decision has not been made. At this time, a complete teardown may not be on the cards.
“Flames GM Craig Conroy has not yet decided to go through a full rebuild, and the belief around Calgary is such a direction is unlikely. A retool, however, may be in the cards if the team continues to falter; moving Andersson could be the first shoe to drop,” Pagnotta wrote.
Kadri will remain at the center of trade discussions until something happens. Only time will tell how this situation unfolds, and who will step up in an attempt to acquire the veteran center.
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