NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman cleared up some rumors regarding Nazem Kadri's trade potential with the Maple Leafs, trying to make sure to set the record straight.
With all the rampant speculation that surrounds the NHL offseason, the analysts, reporters and insiders are all working hard to make sure that everything is above board, making sure not to give too much hope to fans, and keep their sources secure.
Everything can be read into at some level, and even the smallest crumb can explode into a cacophony of 'What if's, and will they's.'
Elliotte Friedman setting the record straight regarding Nazem Kadri
NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman is perhaps the most well-known and trusted source when it comes to the world of professional hockey. Always at the forefront of the biggest deals, news, and rumors, Friedman works tirelessly to make sure that what gets out there isn't fluff.
Which is why it irked him so much that he's been given credit for saying something he never really said, and wanted to clear the air before anything got too out of hand.
Speaking on his 32 Thoughts podcast, he spoke about the Nazem Kadri to Toronto rumors and how certain statements were attributed to him even though it was false:
You know the one thing I do want to say is I don't think I've ever been around something where there were more fake quotes attributed to me in the last week than Nazem Kadri.
I don't know what is going on with you people out there.
People were sending me these quotes they'd said about Kadri and I actually had to send them to the teams and say guys I know you're gonna get calls about this I didn't say this stuff.
You know I just think with Kadri the Flames have been asked about him before.
They have him for term unless he comes to them and says I don't think it's working here I want to go somewhere to compete or they absolutely get their socks blown off to the point where they have to go to him and say we want to do this.
I don't think that's happening like I don't think the Flames are really in a hurry to trade Nazem Kadri right now. Not after he had such a fantastic season for them.
The typically reserved Friedman was clearly tired of hearing what's out there, but he might also be frustrated that what people are hearing are from his colleagues, and just a misattribution.
Calgary would love to keep Kadri, Toronto would love to have him
It's not surprising that Crag Conroy wants to keep Kadri around, considering he's coming off a career-high 35 goals and the Flames would be infinitely worse without him; and unable to really compete for a playoff spot.
To keep a player like Kadri, who makes only $7-million per season with a rising cap is a steal long-term for the Flames, and simply dumping him to his former team hoping his return pieces can give the same production isn't the savviest move.
Kadri, 34, had 67 points in 82 games with Calgary this past season, and has 198 points in 246 games since signing with the Flames.
While the Maple Leafs would certainly love to add him again, and the feeling of a reunion is mutual in some respects, it seems that a trade isn't going to come even as fans want him as that big top-six forward.
At least Elliotte Friedman hopes nothing happens.