With the Montreal Canadiens still on the search for a second-line centre, a new player has been thrown into the rumour mill, someone who used to play for one of the team's rivals. Nazem Kadri began his career with the Maple Leafs before getting traded to the Colorado Avalanche, where he became a Stanley Cup Champion, and now plays for the Calgary Flames. Kadri and the Flames could be moving towards a divorce, and the Canadiens have been mentioned as a potential trade destination, as reports suggest that the centre would be willing to waive his no-trade clause to come to Montreal.
BREAKING: With the lack of centres in the market, a possible destination for Nazem Kadri could be Montreal if the Flames decide to trade him 👀 Would you want Kadri as a 2C? pic.twitter.com/vXj1QdTtwA
— HFTV (@HFTVSports) July 15, 2025
Kadri is coming off a great season in Calgary. He scored a career high in goals last season with 35 and finished the year with 67 points. The Flames' season, on the other hand, did not go as well as they hoped. They missed out on the playoffs on the final night of the season, even though they finished the season tied with the St. Louis Blues on points, who got the final spot in the Western Conference based on a tiebreaker. However, instead of running it back with a roster who were oh so close to a playoff spot, they could be looking to trade a core member of their team, who still has four years left on his contract.
Kadri makes sense for the Canadiens. They are looking for a second-line centre, and Kadri fits that bill. Kadri has been a consistent 60-plus points contributor since he left the Maple Leafs, and is a goalscoring threat with three 30-plus goal seasons under his belt. He also brings valuable playoff experience, winning a Stanley Cup in 2022, and has played over 50 career games in the postseason. He would fit seamlessly into the Canadiens' lineup, but it does not look like the interest is mutual.
The rumours began because there was a report that Kadri was willing to waive his no-trade clause to facilitate a trade to either Montreal or Toronto. According to Jimmy Murphy, a reporter for RG Media, he spoke to a team source with the Canadiens, and as of right now, there is no interest in pursuing a move for Kadri. The reason could be that the Flames' asking price is too high, or they believe the remaining four years at a $7 million cap hit is too much for an aging player, as Kadri will turn 35 before the season begins. There are still a couple of months before the season starts, and the Canadiens could change their mind, but a trade to acquire Kadri does not look likely at present.