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Kadri raves about Calgary Flames GM Conroy after trade to Colorado

Colton Pankiw
Colton Pankiw
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Mar 9 2026, 3:53 pm
Kadri raves about Calgary Flames GM Conroy after trade to Colorado
Isaiah J. Downing/Imagn Images

The Calgary Flames did right by Nazem Kadri, and the 35-year-old is extremely appreciative.

Though his name had been on the block all season long, the thought of trading Nazem Kadri seemed far-fetched to many. The Flames were always going to need to retain some of his $7-million cap hit. With that contract running through 2028-29, few envisioned a scenario where that would occur.

The Flames wound up doing just that, however, retaining 20 per cent of Kadri’s contract while also moving out a 2027 fourth-round pick to the Colorado Avalanche. In exchange, they received Victor Olofsson, forward prospect Max Curran, a conditional 2028 first-round pick, and a conditional 2027 second-round pick.

The Flames didn’t just move Kadri to a Stanley Cup contender. They traded him to the team he wanted to go to the most, with whom he won a Cup back in 2022. That effort from GM Craig Conroy and his team didn’t go unnoticed.

“I can’t say enough good things about those guys, they’re absolutely incredible,” Kadri said on Sunday. “There was a lot of discussion. For them to take care of a veteran player and put him where he wants to go, have that conversation and put in that work. I feel like that’s a bit of a lost art in the executive position these days.

“For them to take care of me, I’m a fan of there’s for life.”

Having a player with the career Kadri has had says these things go a long way. This isn’t the first time we’ve heard of just how much effort Conroy puts in to go above and beyond for his players, and this helps reaffirm that. It should also go a long way in the future when it comes to landing free agents.

As for Kadri, things are going quite well for him early on in his reunion with the Avalanche. The fan base seems beyond happy to have him back, giving him a standing ovation early in his first game back at Ball Arena.

Kadri looked very rejuvenated to throw an Avalanche sweater back on, picking up an assist in what was a big win over the Minnesota Wild. With the win, they were able to improve their league-best record to 43-10-9.

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