Trade rumours picking up with Calgary Flames' Kadri — could he head back to the Leafs?
Despite being seemingly happy with the Calgary Flames, Nazem Kadri’s name continues to be brought up in trade speculation.
There’s no denying that every team in the NHL would love to have a player like Kadri, who can not only put up big numbers in the regular season but is best suited for playoff-style hockey. To this point, however, it hasn’t seemed as though the Flames have much desire to move him.
Kadri, who is coming off a 35-goal, 67-point season, has four years remaining on his contract, which carries a cap hit of $7 million. It also contains a full no-movement clause until the end of the 2025-26 season, before turning into a 13-team no-trade list for the remainder of the deal.
What that means is that Kadri can veto a trade entirely until the end of the 2025-26 season. That said, if the right opportunity were to arise, you have to wonder if the extremely competitive 34-year-old would accept a deal in hopes of capturing another Stanley Cup.
One team that continues to be discussed when it comes to acquiring Kadri is the Toronto Maple Leafs. He spent the first 561 games of his career in a Leafs sweater, and the decision to trade him after the 2018-19 season is viewed as a gaffe by the vast majority of fans.
Should the Maple Leafs reunite with Nazem Kadri?
Korolnek and Feschuk discuss the possibility of the Maple Leafs getting in the mix to construct a deal for Kadri in Toronto.#LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/1cLTOma7yV
— OverDrive (@OverDrive1050) July 2, 2025
For the first time in a long time, the Maple Leafs have cap space to make a move or two following the departure of Mitch Marner. One would assume they would have an interest in Kadri, though whether he is interested in a reunion remains unclear.
At this point, talk surrounding Kadri and the Leafs feels like pure speculation. Should he remain in Calgary for the course of the 2025-26 season, however, rumours could really begin to pick up next summer once his contract shifts from a no-movement to a 13-team no-trade clause.
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