Imminent trade and we finally have action ahead of the NHL trade deadline
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Alexander Cole
Feb 26, 2026 (12:13)
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Photo credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Darren Dreger just released a massive report that Nazem Kadri officially wants out of Calgary, leaving head coach Ryan Huska scrambling before the deadline.
The 35-year-old veteran has finally seen enough of this painful rebuilding phase in Alberta. He is ready to pack his bags and chase another Stanley Cup.
This is a massive bummer for the Flames organization right now. They sit near the bottom of the Western Conference standings with a rough 23-27-6 record.
Losing your top scorer absolutely hurts the locker room culture. With 39 points already in the bank over 56 appearances this season, he is single-handedly carrying the offense.
Calgary relied heavily on his veteran presence to guide its younger prospects through difficult stretches. Now they have to figure out how to fill a massive hole down the middle of the ice.
His current contract definitely makes things complicated for a quick and easy exit. He carries a hefty $7 million cap hit through the 2028-29 campaign.
He also holds a 13-team no-trade list. This firmly limits the front office from maximizing their potential return on the open market.
Top Contenders Eyeing the Veteran Center
Multiple heavy hitters are currently evaluating the gritty forward. The Colorado Avalanche lead the pack as the most logical landing spot.
They just cleared essential cap space by shipping out Samuel Girard for Brett Kulak. A reunion in Denver makes absolute sense for both sides.
But the Toronto Maple Leafs are heavily involved in the sweepstakes too. They desperately need some physical sandpaper in their lineup to survive a grueling playoff run.
Do not sleep on the Los Angeles Kings right now. Their transition game needs an urgent boost to stay competitive in a crowded Pacific Division race.
Even the Montreal Canadiens are quietly circling the waters. Adding his reliable offensive output would instantly speed up their own internal rebuilding timeline.
Defensively, he is admittedly struggling with a -24 rating on the year. Contenders are completely looking past that number because they know the context of Calgary's roster.
They desperately want his proven playoff experience inside their dressing room. Over his NHL career, he consistently delivers clutch performances when the games matter most.
Expect a massive deal to materialize soon. The Flames have zero choice but to finalize a trade before the buzzer sounds on March 6.
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