It’s deadline day, and the Flames have made a splash. After weeks of speculation involving Nazem Kadri, including a deal that almost took place that sent him to the Colorado Avalanche yesterday, Kadri is off to the Avalanche:
The full trade details are below. This is a homerun swing for the Calgary Flames, and the Colorado Avalanche are immediately the cup favourites. Additionally, the Flames will retain 20% on Kadri’s contract for the remainder of it’s term, which will be 1.4M through the 2028-29 season.
Olofsson, 29, is a pending UFA. He signed a one-year, 1.575M deal with the Avalanche in the summer and had 11 goals and 25 points in 60 games. He has a great release and should feature on the Flames powerplay.
Max Curran, 19, was drafted in the fifth round in the 2024 NHL Draft. He has 41 points in 31 games with the Edmonton Oil Kings in the WHL. Flames fans will remember him from this past World Juniors, where he was fantastic and had 1 goal and 5 points in 7 games on route to helping Czechia earn a silver medal. The centre prospect is 6’3″, 187 lbs.
Conditions on the draft picks
The conditions on the draft picks are as follows:
I think it’s same to say that the Avalanche aren’t going to be a bottom ten team next year, so the Nic Roy trade should process as is. That means the Flames will have a top-ten protected 2028 1st and the better of Minnesota and Colorado’s 2027 2nd rounders. Those are great conditions for the Flames as well. This is a slam dunk return for the Calgary Flames.
A look to the Avalanche side
On the Avalanche side, you now have a centre core of Nathan MacKinnon, Brock Nelson, Nazem Kadri, and Nicolas Roy. That is insanely good. Insanely good. Your generational players are in their prime ages to win another Stanley Cup, so who cares about a 2028 1st rounder. It was a steep price to pay, but you’ve got an absolute dynasty of a roster.
