As the offseason continues, the Calgary Flames continue to be in the thick of trade rumours. The Rasmus Andersson fiasco remains the main storyline for this team, but another player’s name has recently gained traction in trade talk. Nazem Kadri’s name has popped up significantly in the media, talking about a potential reunion with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
This would be a blockbuster move, as Kadri would be returning to the franchise where he spent the first nine seasons of his NHL career. He’s an Ontario boy at heart, and a potential homecoming would excite Leafs fans tremendously. With that being said, can it be done? A lot of things would need to fall into place for Kadri’s reunion with the Leafs to work out. Let’s take a look to see if this is truly a realistic scenario for the Flames and the player.
Kadri would likely welcome a return to Toronto
With Kadri, any trade scenario would likely be complicated. He has a full NMC until the final two years of his deal, which pays him $7 million per season. For any Kadri trade to go through, he’d have to waive his NMC to approve it manually.
However, when it comes to Toronto, it would likely be a destination Kadri would happily waive his NMC to go to. He’d still be in a Canadian market, one he’s very familiar with, and the team is always competitive. Kadri would be playing playoff hockey well until his career is pretty much over, instead of spending the last few years of his career on a rebuilding team. After all, Kadri is the type of player who thrives in a playoff environment.
The problems with the Leafs trading for Kadri
Kadri would be a welcome addition to the Leafs. His style of play would greatly benefit Toronto, especially in the postseason. It also makes sense for the Flames to explore trade options, as his value is high despite being in his mid-30s. The Flames trading Kadri would be them doing him a solid for him to spend his final few years contending for a Stanley Cup. On the flip side, a Kadri trade between these two teams would be complicated. Let’s outline the barriers that come in between a Kadri reunion below:
Relationship between the Leafs and Flames
It’s safe to say that the Flames are apprehensive about doing business with the Leafs due to former GM Brad Treliving. The Flames and Treliving parted ways after the 2022-23 season, and since then, the Flames haven’t made any trades with the Leafs. The Flames didn’t even let Treliving go onto the draft floor in 2023 until they made their first-round pick. Treliving was hired as the Leafs’ GM on May 31st of 2023.
It’s been speculated that Flames’ ownership is still sour about how the whole parting of ways went down. As a result, doing business with the Leafs has been discouraged, making a Kadri trade that much harder. In summary, it’s going to take some heavy convincing in order for the Flames’ ownership group to start making deals with Treliving again.
Lack of assets on Toronto’s side
Let’s move on to an obvious con, and that’s Toronto’s lack of meaningful and intriguing assets. The Flames would want a significant return in any Kadri trade, as they should of course. Kadri’s value is probably the highest it’s ever been right now, as he’s coming off a 35-goal, 67-point season. He’s still got his game, and the Flames would want to capitalize on his value.
Unfortunately, looking at the Leafs’ asset cupboards, it frankly looks pretty bleak. They don’t have a single first-round pick until 2028, and their prospect pool is dry. The best prospect the Leafs have is Easton Cowan, but I doubt they would give him up in a Kadri trade. Outside of him, the quality of prospects drops.
| Leafs draft picks for the next two drafts |
| 2026 | 0 1sts | 0 2nds | 1 3rd | 0 4ths | 1 5th | 1 6th | 0 7ths |
| 2027 | 0 1sts | 1 2nd | 0 3rds | 1 4th | 1 5th | 2 6ths | 1 7th |
As for roster players, I don’t see a reason why the Flames would want anyone currently on the Leafs. The only young forward that’s truly available is Nick Roberston, but wingers are the last thing the Flames need right now. Toronto doesn’t have any meaningful assets that the Flames would be interested in.
Kadri’s contract
In any Kadri trade, salary retention is a guarantee. Despite the cap going up, Kadri is still making substantial money, and no contending team would be able to fit his entire contract on their books. For the Flames to get a good return, retaining at least 25-50% would be the move. However, Flames ownership is notoriously known for being against salary retention. Would they be okay with retaining 25-50% of a $7 million cap hit for four more years? I’m not so sure they would be.
There’s also the obvious barrier of Kadri’s NMC. He’d have full control over where he goes, having the freedom to essentially nix any deal with a team he doesn’t want to go to. If for some reason, he doesn’t want to go to the Leafs, he can simply say so.
Is a Kadri trade to Toronto a true possibility?
While the idea of Kadri donning a Leafs jersey once again will excite many, the reality is that it’s not a realistic option for him right now. Given the Flames’ feelings towards Treliving and the Leafs’ lack of assets, Kadri returning to Toronto is simply a pipe dream right now.
I’m not saying the Flames shouldn’t test the trade market for Kadri, but at the end of the day, he ultimately controls his destiny. He loves playing in Calgary, so it may take a lot for him to leave. He has embraced his role mentoring the next generation of Flames, acting as a strong veteran presence. On the flip side, Kadri is 34, and he doesn’t fit the team’s long-term plans. The Flames would be better off trying to get some assets for him when his value is somewhat high, but it’s easier said than done.
Simply put, I don’t see a Kadri trade happening unless he explicitly wants out and requests a trade formally. There could be a chance of that happening given where the Flames are at, but at the same time, Kadri may be perfectly fine embracing a mentorship role.
