Nazem Kadri Signs With The Calgary Flames

Nazem Kadri said it best just after he won the Stanley Cup “I know what I am worth.” And he found it on the open market, despite wanting to remain with the Colorado Avalanche. Kadri signed a seven-year contract worth $7 million a year with the Calgary Flames. The top free-agent center is off the board.

In addition, to make room for Kadri, the Flames are trading Sean Monahan to the Montreal Canadiens.

Kadri deal to the Flames is being finalized. 7 year deal is believed to be the term.

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) August 18, 2022

Nazem Kadri Signs With Calgary Flames

The Colorado Avalanche knew this day was coming. When they acquired Nazem Kadri he was on a very favourable team-friendly deal that paid him $4.5 million a season. However, after his performances in the regular season and playoffs, Kadri was due for a pay raise. As much as the Avalanche tried to make it work and bring back the same team that won the Stanley Cup, it was going to be hard. Especially with Nathan MacKinnon due a new contract next season.

Luckily the Avalanche did not lose everyone, but losing Kadri is a big piece. Kadri was a perfect second-line centre for them. Not to mention during the season he filled on the Avalanche’s top line when players like Mikko Rantanen, Gabriel Landeskog, and MacKinnon were hurt. In addition, Kadri saw his power-play minutes rise this season as well. He is a big addition to insert team signing Kadri.

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It was a career season for Kadri. He recorded a career-high 87 points along with a career-high 59 assists. Kadri was just four goals shy of his high of 32 as he netted 28 goals in the regular season. It was the playoffs where Kadri shined before he got hurt. Kadri was able to move past his suspension history and focus just on his play on the ice. His play on the ice is the reason people were talking about him, not because of him being suspended again.

Though he took center stage in the series against the St. Louis Blues, Kadri was able to rise above the hate and record the first of two hattricks in the playoffs. En route to the Stanley Cup, Kadri recorded 15 points (seven goals and eight assists). He could have past his total of 19 points if it was not for a thumb injury that he sustained in the Western Conference Final. Though 18 days after having thumb surgery, Kadri scored the game-winning overtime goal in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final.

What Lies Ahead

The Flames are getting Kadri, they get a physical, two-way hockey player. Kadri does play with an edge, but he is controlling that edge now and not costing his team as he had done in the past. Centers are hard to come by and Kadri is one of the best. There was a reason the Toronto Maple Leafs drafted Kadri 7th overall in the 2009 NHL Draft.

After losing Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk, general manager Brad Treliving has kept the Flames contenders by acquiring Jonathan Huberdeau and then signing him to a long-term extension, and now signing Kadri long-term. Not to mention the other moves he made to keep the Flames relevant in Stanley Cup contention.

Next up signing MacKenzie Weegar long-term.