The middle of the summer is peak time for Silly Season: That time of year when hockey fans (and sometimes media) cook up entertaining but unlikely trade rumo(u)rs. Inevitably, the ideas amount to this: My favorite team can acquire Coveted Player from Team B in exchange for spare parts and the ever-traded third-round pick. How often do these actually come to pass? Rarely. That’s certainly the case once again with the recent spate of trade rumors surrounding Calgary Flames center Nazem Kadri.
Keeping in mind that no one is untouchable at the right price (the Gretzky Rule), there’s little incentive for the Flames to trade Kadri right now. Calgary certainly isn’t going to accept a B-level prospect or a non-lottery Draft pick (even a potential late first-round 2026 or 2027) first round pick for the veteran center as the main lure for a Kadri deal.
Kadri coming off a big season
The Calgary Flames lack offensive depth. That’s the biggest reason why the Flames missed out on the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs via regulation wins tiebreaker with the St. Louis Blues (both clubs finished with 96 points). The Flames stayed in the playoff chance through goaltending and grit above all else.
Offensively, Kadri led the Flames with 35 goals and 67 points in 2024-25. No other Calgary player had more than 28 goals (frequent Kadri linemate Jonathan Hubedeau) or 62 points (also Huberdeau). There is not a ready replacement for Kadri on Calgary’s top line. Mikael Backlund and Morgan Frost are middle-six players, not top line candidates.
Age is not an immediate concern
The Flames knew exactly how old Kadri was when they signed him to a multi-year deal as a free agent in August 2022. Thus far, Kadri has brought exactly what the Flames want: offensive punch and a pugnacious streak that infuriates opponents.
Yes, Kadri will turn 35 on October 6. He’s also coming off last year’s 35-goal season and a 75-point (29g. 46a) campaign the previous season. He shows no signs of imminent decline.
Cap hit is not a worry
Kadri’s contract carries a $7 million a year cap hit. In the inflationary market that accompanies a rising cap floor/ceiling, the average annual value (AAV) on Kadri’s contract is quite reasonable. It’s not an overpay in today’s market. That’s especially true given Kadri’s role atop of the five-on-five line rotation and first unit power play in Calgary.
In other markets, Kadri would be more of a second-line center. In Calgary, however, he’s their most consistent offensive producer. A $7 million cap hit is A-OK by the Flames. Per our friends at CapWages, the Flames have north of $15 million of cap space. Even for a frugal team, paying Kadri’s salary relative to his production is about as cost contentious as it gets in 2025.
No imminent pressure to trade Kadri
We’d have a different discussion if Kadri was an impending unrestricted free agent in 2026. We might even consider a trade potentially feasible if Kadri had two years left on his deal. Sometimes that “cushion year” that makes a trade candidate more than a rental can bump up trade value for a productive player.
However, the player has three years left on the contract he signed with the Flames in the summer of 2022. There is absolutely no pull for the Flames to trade him this summer. Again, Calgary knows his age and his cap hit. There’s no reason to think that, if he stays healthy, the player won’t still have good value a year from now.
Moreover, the ball is in the player’s court when it comes to naming potential destinations for a theoretical future trade. The Calgary alternate captain has a full no-movement clause in his contract. If and when the time comes that the Flames feel it’s time to move on, Kadri himself will dictate where he’s willing to go.
Other players have NTC/NMC contracts, too
One of the sharpest pins to prick trade rumors: no-trade and no-movement clauses in contracts. Let’s suppose that the rumors the Maple Leafs dangling Morgan Rielly in exchange for Kadri were true. Kadri might waive to go back to Toronto. It’s far less likely, however, that Rielly would waive to go to Calgary.
The Flames are commonly a team designated on no-trade lists. It’s not about the team itself. In fact, the Flames have a very close-knit locker room, a well-liked and respected coach in Ryan Huska and a general manager in Craig Conroy with the rep for treating players right.
Rather, much of the aversion to playing for the Flames is strictly market-driven. Small Canadian markets still operate at a disadvantage. Western-based teams like Calgary also have more grueling travel over the season than many eastern seaboard clubs.
I would counter that argument with one saying that he is a depreciating asset and he will never be worth what he is this summer.
Also, the Flames are a horrible team propped up with decent goaltending.
Time to tear the bandaid off and get some high picks so this team can be more than mid.
I agree MC, Conroy needs to pick a better path. These next 2 drafts have some very exceptional talent coming. Flames can’t keep finishing in the mushy middle, we need to break the cycle.
I wonder if the owner has not given Conroy his marching orders. The same as always…..try to make the playoffs.
I feel like they are in the Iggy years with no Iggy.