Nazem Kadri's Contract Has Changed, and It Could Open the Door for a Maple Leafs Trade

The Toronto Maple Leafs have a real chance to re-acquire one of their former top players as a shift in Nazem Kadri's contract status has made it easier for the team to acquire the 35-year-old.

Kadri's contract, entering the fourth year of a seven-year deal with the Calgary Flames, has been shifted from a full no-move trade, to a partial 13-team no-trade, making a deal easier for a few teams, including Toronto.

Kadri is a player that has been linked to Toronto in the past, but nothing concrete or any expanded talks have come from anything, but momentum seems to be heading towards Kadri potentially joining a contender.

Currently last in the league in points and potentially headed towards the point where they may be in the hunt for a top pick, it could accelerate a trade for Kadri sooner rather than later.

The Toronto Maple Leafs going back to a familiar face in Nazem Kadri is a move that could make sense for all sides involved, and could fill a serious need for Toronto.

The Leafs have been looking for a top-six forward option at center, either a second or third line center alongside John Tavares, with trade deadline acquisition Scott Laughton having been unable to take on the role and currently out injured.

Kadri, 35, has not made the playoffs since coming to Calgary. Kadri was signed by the Flames while current Leafs GM Brad Treliving was in charge of the team making an obvious connection beyond Kadri's former time in Toronto.

Although having spent 10 seasons with the Leafs since being drafted seventh overall in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Kadri is far from guaranteed to be a Leaf, and obvious reasons exist.

The problem with the Toronto Maple Leafs acquiring Nazem Kadri is that they'd have to afford bringing him in, and that alone may take them out of the equation.

Kadri is making $7M until 2029, making Kadri still a valuable contract as someone who has been a top-six forward in Calgary, and with 75 and 67 point seasons in the past two years, promising numbers for a veteran with clear ability to still be a key offensive contributor.

Toronto had some financial relief with Joseph Woll being placed on LTIR, but has since returned to the Leafs, making it possible that financial protection goes away. Toronto could trade players such as Matias Maccelli and Max Domi to make salary work, but would have to add more.

The Leafs don't have a first round pick until 2028, and likely would not want to part with Easton Cowan, giving Toronto limited options to acquire a player of Kadri's caliber with a lack of picks and marquee prospects.

Toronto is not the only team in on Kadri, making him a marquee player, and one that the Leafs would not get an easy path forward if the goal was to sign him.