Trade deadline blockbuster deal near the finish line and it appears that Nazem Kadri has found his new home
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Sam Walker
Mar 6, 2026 (1:33 PM)
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Photo credit: h
Nazem Kadri is back on the Montreal Canadiens radar, and the Calgary Flames talks feel close enough to make fans sweat.
David Pagnotta says Montreal circled back recently on Kadri, with talks continuing and real «finish line» chatter.
That matters because Friday is deadline day, and circles turning into phone calls usually means the price is finally clear.
Montreal is 33-18-9 and playing meaningful games, but you can feel the front office hunting for one more reliable middle lane option.
Kadri's 2025-26 line sits at 12-29-41, the kind of steady production that keeps a top-six from going quiet for weeks.
Pagnotta also floated Patrik Laine as a possible piece if this thing actually gets over the line.
The hard part is the money, because Kadri carries a $7,000,000 cap hit and he is not a short rental.
Calgary sitting at 24-30-7 is exactly why this conversation never really dies, even if it cools off for a week.
Nazem Kadri could tilt Montreal Canadiens urgency
Habs fans are excited, but it's the nervous kind of excited, because everyone knows one «win-now» trade can age fast.
On the ice, Kadri slots cleanly as a second-line center, lets the coaching staff spread matchups, and keeps Nick Suzuki from wearing every tough defensive start.
On the man advantage, he brings the greasy middle touches, quick bump plays, and that annoying net-front habit that turns rebounds into chaos.
For Calgary, the ask is probably futures plus cap creativity, and that's where Laine becomes the lever instead of the centerpiece.
Laine's deal has been pegged at an $8.7 million annual value, so retention talk and third-team math would not be a surprise at all.
The timing is spicy too, because Montreal is in Anaheim on Friday, and a trade landing before puck drop would change the vibe immediately.
If this really is near the finish line, the next few calls will tell us whether Kent Hughes is buying a run, or just buying insulation for April.
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