The Toronto Maple Leafs have yet to make their plans for the future clear. After trading away Mitch Marner, fans sense Auston Matthews and company could have great use for another star. And perhaps, who better than Calgary Flames‘ Nazem Kadri, whose NHL background is mostly linked to the organization in The Six.
Kadri’s time in Toronto didn’t end on the best terms. He was shown the door in 2020 after yet another heartbreaking elimination in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Salary cap concerns and his recent postseason suspension convinced the Leafs to let go of their former first-round pick in the 2009 NHL entry Draft.
Much has changed since. But even more has stayed the same in Toronto. As such, the franchise might believe reuniting Matthews with Kadri could be for the best. There are several common sayings that would dispute Leafs fans’ interest in welcoming back Kadri, but sometimes broken hearts don’t understand reasonable words.
While there haven’t been formal negotiations between the Flames and the Maple Leafs, the buzz has only grown louder around Kadri. The 34-year-old has caught a hold of the fans’ interest and he recently voiced a sincere message on his thoughts.
Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs warms up prior to play against the Detroit Red Wings during the 2017 Scotiabank NHL Centennial Classic at BMO Field On January 1, 2017 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
“Unless I live in a box, I think I would hear it. I’ve certainly heard lots of speculation for sure,” Kadri admitted, via The Knight Shift. “Obviously, the rumor mill is pretty strong, especially around these parts. And a lot of the time, the rumors can catch some fire and that fire turns into bigger fires.”
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It’s just talk
While Kadri refrained from making any statement that could put him on the spot, the Flames’ forward did admit he had no issue with the lengths to which the tittle-tattle has extended to. At the end of the day, it’s the NHL offseason, and the noise is only serving as a soundtrack to an otherwise lull period.
“You know what? And why not? I mean, there’s not a whole lot in terms of sports going on right now,” Kadri added. “I think it’s definitely a topic to talk about, and hey, why not talk about it?”
Nazem Kadri #91 of the Calgary Flames looks on during the first period against the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena on February 02, 2025 in Seattle, Washington.
Fine in the West
While several reports indicate Kadri is interested in returning to hometown Ontario, the veteran knows better than to publicly admit it. Especially when it’s Calgary who currently pays for his $7M salary.
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“It’s been excellent. Calgary is such a great city, especially for the family and myself,” Kadri stated about the Stampede City. “Very scenic and beautiful, and got some good players along the way. So I appreciate the C of Red for sure.”
Kadri’s contract includes a full no-movement clause, so for anything to happen, the center would first need to knock on the Flames’ front office door and let them know he wants to skip town. Matthews and Toronto need cooperation from Kadri to make their formal offer. As it stands, Kadri’s public comments don’t suggest any desperation or urgency to leave Alberta.
