Two of the biggest trade chips went off the board ahead of the Olympic Break. First, the Calgary Flames traded defenseman Rasmus Andersson to the Vegas Golden Knights. Then the New York Rangers sent forward Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings. With the two unrestricted free agents off the board, attention turns to Flames forward Nazem Kadri.
As Anthony Di Marco of the Daily Faceoff stated when asked who was at the top of everyone’s trade bait board on TSN Radio in Montreal.
NHLRumors.com Transcriptions
Host: “So we’ll get into the Artemi Panarin deal in just a second. Now that Panarin has moved on to L.A., who’s at the top of everybody’s trade bait board?”
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Anthony Di Marco: “Man, like, is it Nazem Kadri? I feel like it’s Nazem Kadri. Like, he isn’t a rental, he isn’t like Panarin, and he isn’t like (Rasmus) Andersson or what have you. But I just feel like, I don’t know. There’s just something about Nazem Kadri that I feel like, with him, dollar value of $7 million, I think he has what, three years beyond this year, at what is it? Three? Three years at $7 million. If you retain that, you may go $3.5 million player. He’s won a Stanley Cup. There’s never any left centers available. I feel like Nazem Kadri would be the guy.”
Kadri’s name has been in the rumor mill for a couple of years now. However, things have picked up this season, given how poorly the Flames have played. While Kadri isn’t on pace numbers-wise as he was last season, a contending team could use his services.
There was hesitation earlier because he wanted to remain with the Calgary Flames and help them win. However, he is more willing to move if the Flames approach him about it. But GM Craig Conroy is still holding firm on his price. A team will have to come up with an offer they can’t refuse on or before the trade deadline to move him.
With names like Blake Coleman, Ryan Lomberg, and maybe even MacKenzie Weegar available, how will the Flames handle their final retention slot for this season? Flames have retained Andersson and are still retaining on Jacob Markstrom‘s deal, even after trading him to the New Jersey Devils. So if they move Coleman or Kadri, one has to be retained this season and beyond.
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While Nazem Kadri is the top target, there is still work to be done before he actually gets moved this season, if at all.
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