NHL center Nazem Kadri, originally from London, Ontario, has become a key player in recent trade discussions, with both Montreal and Toronto showing significant interest. Despite having four years left on his contract with the Calgary Flames, earning $7 million annually, his personal ties to Montreal could influence the direction of a potential Nazem Kadri trade Montreal Toronto deal.
Calgary Flames General Manager Craig Conroy is currently listening to offers not only for Kadri but also for defenseman Rasmus Andersson from Malmo, Sweden. While Andersson’s potential moves to teams like Dallas or Toronto have been widely speculated, it is Kadri’s situation that has sparked the most attention. Although many would assume that Toronto holds an advantage in negotiations—given Kadri’s Ontario roots and Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving’s former role in Calgary—the Canadiens might be better positioned due to an unexpected factor. Kadri revealed in a November interview that while many of his peers rooted for the Maple Leafs, he himself grew up a devoted Canadiens fan. This personal allegiance could give Montreal an edge in talks, despite Kadri’s local ties to Ontario.
So far, Toronto and Calgary have not agreed on terms for trading Kadri, partly because Treliving, who left Calgary for Toronto in 2023, has found it difficult to broker deals with his former team.
An Overview of Kadri’s Performance in the 2024-25 Season
During the 2024-25 season, Kadri played 82 games, scoring 35 goals and adding 32 assists for a total of 67 points. He recorded a -17 plus-minus rating and accumulated 72 penalty minutes. Kadri also contributed 22 power-play points and secured five game-winning goals. His offensive efforts were supported by 279 shots on goal, and he won 677 faceoffs. On the defensive side, he blocked 30 shots and registered 55 hits. However, Kadri was also responsible for 60 giveaways compared to 30 takeaways.
Kadri’s Tenure with the Toronto Maple Leafs
Kadri was a first-round draft pick, ninth overall, by Toronto in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. He was seen as a promising local talent, having played junior hockey with the London Knights and Kitchener Rangers in the Ontario Hockey League. Over a decade with the Maple Leafs from 2009 to 2019, Kadri appeared in 561 games and scored 161 goals alongside 196 assists, totaling 357 points. His defensive stats included a -27 rating and 387 penalty minutes. Kadri also contributed 99 power-play points and one shorthanded point, with 21 game-winning goals to his name. He took 1,401 shots on goal and won 3,476 faceoffs, while blocking 204 shots and delivering 814 hits. He achieved five hat tricks and accumulated 323 takeaways, though he gave away possession 362 times.
The ongoing trade discussions involving Kadri highlight the complexities of NHL negotiations, where personal histories and team loyalties can play crucial roles. If Montreal capitalizes on Kadri’s childhood support for the Canadiens, it might sway the Flames in their favor, altering the expected balancing act between the rival Canadian clubs. The outcome of these talks will be closely watched, as they may reshape both teams’ rosters and affect the competitive landscape in the coming seasons.