On the latest edition of 32 Thoughts, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman offered an update on the status of veteran Nazem Kadri, suggesting that trade talks around the Flames centre continue to heat up.
Kadri talk has picked back up
During the first Flames segment of 32 Thoughts, Friedman mentions that Montreal is, in fact, not on the no-trade list Kadri provided the Flames, despite a report last week that he was. He also offered an update on Kadri’s name on the trade market and where things stand.
“He can go to Montreal without approval. We’ll see what happens there. I think one of the things that happened with Kadri, with Robert Thomas available out there, maybe some other centres being available that people didn’t realize, it kind of slowed things down. I think that’s picked back up a bit. I’ve heard they’re [Calgary] open to it.”
It sounds like as the trade deadline has gotten closer and more team’s have become sellers, a more crowded centre market took away some steam from the Kadri rumours. However Friedman suggests that talks on Kadri have picked back up again. It certainly sounds like a Kadri trade this season is becoming more and more likely. There’s just so much smoke there.
Utah has entered the mix for Kadri
Later on, Friedman also mentioned a new suitor for Kadri that we haven’t heard before. The Utah Mammoth.
“I think Utah’s a team that has also a team that has asked about Kadri. What is the possibility here? I do know they’ve asked.”
Talk about a dream match for the Flames. The Mammoth are absolutely loaded with high-end prospects and picks in their system, and could no doubt offer up an incredible future’s laden deal for Kadri. While it’s a huge longshot, they also have the son of a certain hall of famer in their system who goes by the name Iginla.
Whether the Flames are able to pull off a miracle and pry Iginla from Utah or not, the bottom line is they have a ton of interesting pieces that the Flames should be interested in. A team like Utah could likely offer a much better return than a team like Dallas or Colorado.
The Flames asking price for Kadri
Finally, Friedman offers up his best guess at what Calgary is likely asking for in return for Kadri.
“Calgary has told other teams that have called about him [Kadri] that there is a couple ways they’re willing to do this. They’re willing to do the Brock Nelson kind of deal, which is a first round pick and a prospect. Or they’re willing to do more what’s called the hockey deal, less of a futures deal but more of a young player that the Flames would have control over.”
While this isn’t surprising news, it’s good to hear the Flames are asking for this type of return for Kadri. Brock Nelson has always been the obvious comparable trade, and if the Flames were able to get a similar return for Kadri it would be a huge win. As a quick refresher, the Islanders shipped Nelson to Colorado last year in return for a first round pick, and first-round prospect Calum Ritchie.
Friedman also mentions that Calgary would be open to more of a hockey trade, that would see them bring back young NHL players instead of picks and prospects. This would be much more in line with how Conroy has typically structured his trades.
Picking up mid 20’s players like Yegor Sharangovich, Kevin Bahl, Artem Grushnikov, and Daniil Miromanov has been a clear mandate for the Flames under Conroy. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the team take a similar route with Kadri if they trade him.
If I’m the Flames, I’m targeting the Nelson return over adding another mid 20’s player to an already crowded roster. As we know, these mid 20’s reclamation players are typically expendable for a reason. Take the picks and prospects and continue to build for the future.
