God, it’s been a wild ride up to this point for veteran Flames center Nazem Kadri.
On Wednesday night, fiery pivot will suit up for his 1000th NHL regular season game.
It flies under the radar among the drama that surrounds this Calgary group, but the 35-year-old first liner has posted two of his top three seasons in terms of offensive production since signing a seven-year contract at the age of 31.
Highest Production Seasons – Nazem Kadri
2021-22: 28g, 59a – 87 points
2023-24: 29g, 46a – 75 points
2024-25: 35g, 32a – 67 points
He’s played the will-he won’t-he game as a prospect trying to break through the AHL. He endured endless criticism in Toronto when an early 2010’s rebuild collapsed in on itself. He’s had to deal with racism at so many points throughout his career.
Playoff controversy, suspensions, hatred from people that have never met him. We could easily put up +3000 words on the BS that Nazem has had to navigate.
Yet here he is. Leading the Calgary Flames in points at the age of 35 with ten points (3g, 7a) in 14 games. On pace for his fifth best season offensively on one of the less offensively gifted teams in the NHL.
Pretty cool. Raise a glass to Naz tonight. He has so much to be proud of.
You have to imagine that his leadership has been invaluable through Calgary’s 3-9-2 stumble out of the game.
Bad starts? He’s seen seasons turned around.
Healthy scratching the young guys? Naz played 50 NHL games over his first two full pro seasons. He was 21 when he finally broke through for 44 points in 48 games in 2012-13.
Dealing with angry fans? Don’t get us started. Here’s to a big performance tonight.
Kuz Control
Making his season debut tonight is six-foot-four, 23 year old defenceman Yan Kuznetsov. The 50th overall selection from the 2020 NHL Entry Draft is once again sporting strong goal differentials in the AHL this season with a +5 in ten games to go with two goals.
His promotion has nothing to do with Zayne Parekh as Kuznetsov plays the left side. Yan’s size and speed should be change of pace from Calgary’s mostly undersized blue line. He got exposed a bit during the preseason against higher level competition, but his on-ice blemishes seemed fixable with a bit of repetition.
Kuznetsov cleared waivers in October and is waiver-exempt until he plays ten games in the NHL or stays on the roster for 30 days.
Calgary Flames Projected Lineup
Zary-Kadri-Farabee
Huberdeau-Frost-Coronato
Honzek-Backlund-Coleman
Lomberg-Sharangovich-Klapka
Bahl-Andersson
Hanley-Weegar
Kuznetsov-Pachal
Wolf
Cooley
Sorry, Kid
You may notice Zayne Parekh sitting another game out. The lack of transparency as to why has much of the fan base up in arms.
What we do know is that the 19-year-old is nursing a minor injury. He’s played ten games and has a single power play assist to show for it. It may be unfair to come to conclusions without all of the information.
While the ninth overall pick from 2024 can’t hold a regular spot in the AHL this season, he can be sent down once on a conditioning stint. Parekh can also attend the U20 World Junior Hockey Championship.
Mews Injured
Per Michigan Daily reporter Matthew Auchincloss, 19-year-old blue line prospect Henry Mews is done for the NCAA season. No specifics were offered on the nature of the injury.
The third round pick (74th overall) from 2024 had nine assists in tens games with the University of Michigan Wolverines this season.
Mews finished third among OHL defencemen in scoring last season with 82 points (14g, 68a) in 68 games between the Ottawa 67’s and the Sudbury Wolves.
The puck drops after a few Kadri-related ceremonies around 7:50 P.M. MST.
Stats courtesy of Natural Stat Trick, Cap Wages, and the National Hockey League.
KEEP READING:
Calgary Flames Early Season Struggles: Kadri Trade Talk & Young Core Under Fire
Benched: Making Sense of the Matthew Coronato Situation
Between the Lines: Insiders Greenlight a Flames Rebuild
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