According to their fans, the Calgary Flames should be in full tank mode, and they’re right. The team has had a miserable 1-5-0 start to the 2025-26 season, as the future of many players is now up in the air. Among those individuals is Nazem Kadri, who is a notable part of the current veteran core in Calgary.
Fans know that Kadri loves playing in Canada and currently possesses a full NMC. However, it’s also well known that the 35-year-old is desperate to play postseason hockey, and with this current situation, that may be a tough goal to fulfil. At this point, the message is clear: the Flames are likely to be sellers, and more players could be on their way out. Therefore, the team should look to work with Kadri to find a situation where he can win, and the teams should look to get some assets for him while they can.
Signs of regression are already popping up with Kadri
While six games are a very small sample size, the writing is on the wall for the Flames. The biggest issue with this team right now is their lack of offence, which is a recurring issue from last season.
As for Kadri, he currently leads the Flames in points with four assists. However, his slow but steady decline has been notable in his play. Kadri isn’t going to keep up his production forever, especially as he approaches his late 30s. Kadri has looked slower overall so far this season, and it’s an expected but concerning trend for a team that lacks scoring punch. After all, the Flames can’t lean on their veterans to put pucks in the net every night, especially as they get up there in age.
Does Kadri already see the bigger picture?
Let’s face it: NHL players aren’t stupid. They know what is said in the media and what their team’s true direction is. Kadri is surely no different. He must see the path the Flames are headed towards, and it clearly doesn’t align with his goals of competing for another Stanley Cup.
If the Flames continue to struggle this badly, the noise surrounding Kadri will get even louder. I can see a scenario where the player and his agent sit down with the team to discuss the future. For Kadri, I have a hard time believing that he would reject the chance to play for a contender if the opportunity were to arise. With him being in his mid-30s, he doesn’t have the time to wait for a turnaround. By the time the Flames are true contenders, he’ll be out of the league.
So why not get something for the player while his value is still somewhat high? It’s a drum we’ve been beating over and over again, but the Flames’ tough start should make that even more clear. Now is the time to get some meaningful assets for the future for a player who clearly doesn’t fit the team’s timeline. If the Flames look to trade him in a couple of seasons instead, good luck to that.
The trade rumors won’t back down
As the Flames continue to stand pat, the trade rumors will only continue to pour in, especially near the trade deadline. Will the increasing noise prompt a Kadri trade to develop sooner rather than later?
We already know that Rasmus Andersson is likely on his way out, but more veterans could soon be on the block. Kadri, as well as Blake Coleman, could very well be finding new homes this season, that is, if the Flames accept their fate.
While Kadri’s $7 million salary could complicate things, the increasing cap could help alleviate that. Either way, I think a Kadri trade has now become a real possibility as the Flames have been exposed as the team they truly are. His NMC does convert into a modified 13-team NTC next season, but I feel Kadri would take the opportunity to go win a Cup if it came to him this season. The goal should stay the same: to sell off more veterans for future assets and to get a top pick in a strong 2026 draft class.
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