Nazem Kadri's Return to Toronto Emerges as a Strong Possibility Following New Report
The Maple Leafs need to make a trade that will bring them a deep playoff run, and according to a former NHL executive: It has to be for Nazem Kadri.
It's no secret that the Toronto Maple Leafs need to make a trade for a center.
They are critically thin down the middle and with the amount of injuries, that list gets even shorter.
There have been several trade candidates thrown around in recent weeks and with Toronto needing to have a strong playoff performance, it's getting to the point where something has to be done.
Brad Treliving and the Maple Leafs are also aware of the urgency.
Former NHL GM Doug Maclean was speaking on The Real Kyper and Bourne Podcast when the topic of who the Leafs should target in a potential deal:
He continued about how Brad Treliving is fully aware of needing to make a trade but has a lot on his plate at the moment:
MacLean also mentioned both Nazem Kadri's and Calgary's reluctance to deal with past frustrations:
But ultimately stated that Kadri's impact would be a huge boost for the Maple Leafs' chances for a Stanley Cup:
Does Nazem Kadri Fit For The Maple Leafs?
Yes, as good as anyone does.
For as much criticism Kadri received in his career, he has blossomed into a fantastic player who has grown a lot since he was in Toronto.
Since leaving Toronto, he's played 362 games and has 296 points over that span (including this season) split between Colorado and Calgary and was a huge producer for the Avalanche in the playoffs with 34 points in 33 games.
His best season came in 2021-22 with the Avalanche where Kadri exploded for 87 points in 71 games while helping Colorado win the Stanley Cup.
For what it's worth, Kadri is also open to a reunion but would need to have fully resolved his previous issues with the team:
His fit within the lineup is perfect given he ticks all the boxes Brad Treliving needs for his forward depth.
Scoring? Check.
Defense? Check.
Veteran Faceoff Guy? Check.
Trade Proposal Sending Nazem Kadri to the Toronto Maple Leafs
A trade for Kadri would take a lot of pieces being moved around and Toronto would be more than likely asking for some salary retention for Kadri's $7M but could look like this:
Toronto Maple Leafs Acquire:
(C) Nazem Kadri (50% salary retained)
(C) Kevin Rooney
Calgary Flames Acquire:
(RW) Nick Robertson
(C) David Kampf
(C/W) Pontus Holmberg
TOR 3rd Round Pick
The trade opens up spots for them, and gets rid of David Kampf's bloated deal, and the addition of Calgary retaining half of Kadri's salary helps long-term given he's got a few years left.
Plus, it gives the polarizing Nicholas Robertson a fresh start after two very miserable seasons.
Kadri would make an instant impact on Toronto's third line, and he would be able to fuel a line of youngsters like Fraser Minten and Nikita Grebenkin.
He could even try and create some magic alongside Max Domi and spark his offense again and find chemistry with fellow veteran Max Pacioretty as a veteran scoring trio.
A potential lineup with Kadri could look something like this:
Knies -- Matthews -- Nylander
McMann -- Tavares -- Marner
Pacioretty -- Kadri -- Domi
Lorentz -- Minten -- Grebenkin
Giving Max Domi a secondary playmaker who can also score 20-30 goals is a massive improvement over what he's worked with on the third line. Giving Pacioretty a player similar to Tavares will hopefully let his offense come back into form again.
Toronto is going to have to shuffle pieces for it to work, but that could be a very scary lineup come late April.
The Past Haunting The Maple Leafs
It's a perfect fit on paper with Kadri coming back to the team that drafted him 7th overall in 2009 and helping them win after growing into the veteran he is today.
But it's more a matter of whether Kadri is ready to come back.
Per Kadri's book 'Dreamer: My Life On The Edge' his tenure in Toronto ended on murky terms and he was still frustrated with how things turned out.
An excerpt reads:
It was his agent who broke the news, explaining that the Flames were interested in a deal. However, Calgary was on Kadri's 12-team no-trade list, and he vetoed the move.
News of the situation spread among Leafs players, causing concern and frustration. Kadri had to reassure his teammates that everything was fine, despite the behind-the-scenes turmoil."
While there is new management in tow now, it is truly up to Kadri and his conscience whether he forgives the team enough to rejoin them.
There's also the case of Brad Treliving's history with the Calgary Flames, and the sting of some bad deals including Jonathan Huberdeau's massive flop of an extension still fresh in their minds even if they wanted to make a trade.
Nazem Kadri would be an unbelievable get for the Toronto Maple Leafs and he offers everything the team needs to have a successful playoff run.
Everything lies in his hands now.
| POLL | ||
Should Toronto reunite with Nazem Kadri? | ||
| Yes, no matter what! | 285 | 21.5 % |
| Yes, but only if the price is right | 715 | 54 % |
| No, but if there's no one else I guess | 131 | 9.9 % |
| Absolutely not! | 194 | 14.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
