The Toronto Maple Leafs are navigating an incredibly tough stretch when it comes to dealing with injuries impacting their forward corps, and the franchise might be exploring the possibility of adding some reinforcements via trade.
One of the names floated around would mean reacquiring a former Maple Leafs star in current Calgary Flames center Nazem Kadri.
According to NHL analyst Doug MacLean, speaking on Toronto’s FAN 590 radio station (h/t Leafs Latest), the Leafs have been “kicking tires” on a trade for the Flames’ 34-year-old forward, who is in the third year of a seven-year, $49 million contract.
“If you’re going to play against teams in the playoffs-Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes, New Jersey Devils, Rangers-you need a player like Kadri,” MacLean said. “I know some people in Toronto think (Flames’ GM) McLennan is clueless, but I’m telling you, if I’m Brad Treliving and I hear they’re kicking tires-I heard today they were kicking tires there-Treliving has his hands full.”
MacLean noted that while the Flames may be open to discussions due to their financial constraints, Kadri’s $7 million annual cap hit presents significant challenges. The analyst also brought back Kadri’s past and exit from Toronto a few years ago before he was traded to the Avalanche on his way to win the Stanley Cup.
Kadri played ten seasons with the Maple Leafs after being drafted with the no. 7 pick in the 2009 NHL draft, becoming a fan favorite before being dealt to Colorado.
“There’s still some animosity because of how Kadri left,” MacLean said. “But if you’re Brad Treliving and you hear the Leafs are interested, you at least take the call.”
Kadri is a key piece for Calgary but has struggled offensively this season, with only one goal in his last 11 games and 10 points in 20 total games amassing a mimus-11 plus/minus.
“If Toronto gets Kadri and they face Florida or other playoff teams, it’s going to be a different series,” MacLean said.
It’s unclear how Kadri would fit the Leafs lineup, however. A potential role in Toronto would likely be as a third-line center behind Auston Matthews and John Tavares, or he could slide into the C2 role with Tavares moving down a line.
All things considered, the first and most important hurdle Toronto and Calgary would need to clear before all of this speculation turns into reality would be agreeing to a reasonable price for Kadri’s acquisition in a trade, not to mention Toronto’s tight cap situation.
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