The Minnesota Wild rocked the hockey world following a major move. They facilitated a huge blockbuster trade with the Vancouver Canucks, acquiring star defenceman Quinn Hughes. Following the trade, the Wild have remained undefeated and are in talks of becoming serious Stanley Cup contenders.
It seems like Wild GM Bill Guerin may be going all in this season, as the Wild continue to aim to make their roster better. The Calgary Flames, on the other hand, are expected to be full-on sellers by the time the trade deadline rolls around and have some notable veterans that are generating serious interest around the league.
Among those names is Nazem Kadri. As the Flames continue to be a bottom-five team, will Kadri want out, and if so, where would he take his talents? Multiple teams are in the mix, but the Wild have emerged as potential candidates if Kadri were to become available.
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Wild reportedly are willing to acquire Kadri
According to insider Anthony Di Marco, the Wild may be eyeing Kadri as a potential trade candidate to bolster their roster. While he’s still on a hefty contract, the Wild still consider him a player who could fit their style of hockey and system. Here’s more of what he had to say:
“I’ve heard from team sources that the Wild like Calgary Flames center Nazem Kadri. Kadri, 35, comes with a hefty AAV of $7-million until 2029, but would (at least on paper) check all the boxes for the Wild; as a center and someone who brings grit, Kadri would surely fit right into a Guerin type of team. But given Kadri’s age and contract, I imagine the Flames would need to retain on any prospective deal for the Wild to entertain.”
“The Flames are willing to retain on Kadri if the price is right, but the amount will be contingent on if whether can clear it with ownership. Assuming ownership gives the green light, I’m told the Flames are open to retaining up to 50 percent, according to team sources. Speaking with people close to the situation in Minnesota, the feeling I get is that the Wild would be open to giving up a first round pick and a prospect should the Flames make Kadri a $5-million (or less) player.”
Di Marco also mentions that Kadri’s 13-team no-trade list currently includes the Minnesota Wild. However, this doesn’t mean that the deal between these two teams is dead, as players with no-trade lists can be persuaded to make an exception if they believe the fit is right.
What assets would the Flames seek in a Kadri trade?
With the Wild willing to make a move for Kadri, the ball is in the Flames’ court. For a move to be made, though, the Wild need to meet the Flames’ price for the 35-year-old.
It hasn’t been clarified what the Flames actually want for Kadri, but a deal revolving around a 1st and a prospect is likely the bare minimum. Let’s see what the Wild have to offer:
Draft picks
The Wild have a relatively good amount of draft capital. They have their own 1st in 2027, but they don’t have a 2nd in 2026 or 2027; they do have one in 2028. For mid-round picks, the Wild pretty much own all of their own for the next two drafts as well.
In a Kadri trade, getting back a 1st is a must for the Flames, so they’ll likely target the Wild’s pick in 2027. Maybe they also look to the 2nd in 2028 as well.
Prospects
Regarding their prospect pool, the Wild have one that likely ranks within the middle of the league. Their best prospect in Zeev Buium got shipped out to Vancouver as part of the Hughes trade, so there’s some slim pickings here if I have to be honest.
I think the Flames would be interested in a player like Charlie Stramel. He was a first-round pick by the Wild in 2023, and currently has 18 points in 16 games with Michigan State University. Riley Heidt could be another player the Flames look at. The 20-year-old has nine points with the Iowa Wild so far, and was a second-round pick also in 2023. Both these players are listed as centres.
Some wingers could interest the Flames like Danila Yurov and Ryder Ritchie. I don’t see the Wild trading Yurov, but Ritchie could be another potential piece. He currently has 11 points in 18 games for Boston University and is a Calgary native.
Roster players
I really don’t see the Flames taking back any roster players in a Kadri trade. There’s no player currently on the Wild’s roster that would make sense for Calgary to acquire. If anything, the Wild would likely dump a player’s contract in a separate deal before acquiring Kadri, but they’d still require retention.
Final thoughts
On paper, Kadri would be a huge addition for the Wild. The team’s centre depth isn’t the best right now, and adding Kadri to the mix would only amplify the talk of Minnesota being a contender. If the Flames retain salary, they could net a pretty decent return.
The main issue is whether Kadri would even agree to sign off to join the Wild. But with the Flames not even being close to contention, the Wild are in a much better spot right now. The franchise as a whole hasn’t had much playoff success, but the acquisition of Hughes just proves that the team isn’t messing around. Adding Kadri would only strengthen them even more, as Kadri’s a player who thrives in the postseason and is looking to win before he has to hang them up eventually.
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