There's a better than 50/50 chance Nazem Kadri is moved, but not to Toronto
Photo credit: Simon Fearn-Imagn Images
There's been discussions recently about Nazem Kadri's trade potential and a new update from Frank Seravalli reveals he now has a 50-50 chance of being dealt.
The Calgary Flames have not been the same team we saw last year. The same one that nearly snuck into the playoffs has now become a team stuck in the bottom of the Western Conference, and there's not a clear direction for them to get out of their slump.
It's led to heavy discussions about the future of certain players on the team, but nobody has gotten more attention over the past several months than veteran forward Nazem Kadri.
Linked repeatedly to his former team, the Maple Leafs, as well as other Canadian clubs, Kadri's name has consistently circulated in trade rumours and with the Flames in the situation they are in, there may be some fire behind that smoke.
Nazem Kadri's chances of being traded land at 50/50
According to NHL Insider Frank Seravalli, he believes that Kadri could end up getting dealt and that it could be a very likely possibility.
Speaking on the Big Show with Rusic and Rose, Seravalli revealed he believes there's about a 50-50 chance the Flames move Kadri, but where remains a mystery:
Nazem Kadri, I'd say there's a better than 50/50 chance he's on the move, based on the interest, based on where the Flames are at.
Although the Flames still have time to turn things around, they are currently dealing with a severe lack of production from their stars.
Key players like Jonathan Huberdeau and Blake Coleman have struggled to meet expectations, while younger contributors such as Connor Zary have also cooled off.
Dustin Wolf has also taken a noticeable step back statistically compared to last season, contributing to Calgary's wider regression and has a 6-11-2 record with a 3.02 GAA and .895 SV% compared to last season where he had a 29-16-8 record with a 2.64 GAA and .910 SV%.
Why Kadri is the exact profile Leafs fans want and still the wrong move for this roster
The Flames season draws parallels to the Maple Leafs' current path, and being so connected to Kadri has led many to believe he should come back.
While that would be great, and you can't argue with the fact that he's emerged as one of the best gritty two-way forwards who's also won a Cup -- Toronto can't really afford it.
He's 35, making $7-million for the next four seasons, and while we've seen John Tavares keep up his production, there's no guarantee Kadri will.
Adding Kadri would further strain Toronto's cap crunch, especially with several high‑end contracts already limiting their ability to do much. With Toronto needing other pieces like a puck-moving blueliner, they need to save as much capital as they can.
Plus, even getting him is going to take a king's ransom. Calgary would likely ask for a premium package, potentially including a top prospect and a first‑round pick given Kadri's contract term and role.
All of that for a player who doesn't necessarily move the needle, and Toronto's problems lie deeper than adding Kadri to the mix.
Toronto's issues extend beyond adding another gritty forward; their inconsistent play over 60 minutes and defensive structure remain the core problems.
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