Nazem Kadri remains unsigned on Day 3 of free agency, and several teams that seemed like potential suitors have already signed other centers on the market. The Rangers got Vincent Trocheck. Detroit snatched Andrew Copp. Anaheim took Ryan Strome.
So what teams could make sense for Kadri?
Based on teams’ needs, cap situations and Kadri’s potential interests, here are five places the standout center could wind up.
Colorado Avalanche
This didn’t seem like much of a possibility entering free agency, but now that the market has slowed, it seems like Colorado is back on the table. Kadri said entering free agency that, though he knows the NHL is a business, his preference would be to stay with the Avalanche, and general manager Chris MacFarland told reporters he asked Kadri’s agent, Darren Ferris, to keep him in the loop on all decisions.
The Avalanche would have to clear cap space to bring Kadri back, presumably by trading a quality roster player like J.T. Compher or Samuel Girard. Both of those moves come with complications, though, and Colorado will also have to make any decisions with an eye toward next offseason, when a potential Nathan MacKinnon extension would kick in and Bowen Byram, Alex Newhook and Ben Meyers hit restricted free agency. The team needs to maintain some cap flexibility going forward.
But Colorado also could use a second-line center, and Kadri was perfect in that role in 2021-22, posting a career-high 87 points. Perhaps MacFarland can pull off some magic and get a deal done, especially if Kadri is willing to leave cash on the table to stay in Denver.
UFA forward Nazem Kadri remains unsigned and might not have found the payday he was seeking on the open market.
Could the Avalanche still keep him?@Peter_Baugh takes a look at the reigning Stanley Cup champions' depth chart as it stands now ⤵️https://t.co/2UrgXT8wrb
— The Athletic NHL (@TheAthleticNHL) July 15, 2022
New York Islanders
Like the Avalanche, the Islanders would have to clear cap space to get a deal done. They still have to pay Noah Dobson, Kieffer Bellows and Alexander Romanov, who are restricted free agents, and that could eat up somewhere around $8 million of the $11.185 million of space CapFriendly projects them to have. That means someone like Josh Bailey ($5 million average annual value for two more years) or Anthony Beauvillier ($4.15 million AAV for two more years) would have to go to create room.
Here’s some insight from Kevin Kurz, The Athletic’s Islanders beat writer:
“The Islanders struck out on Johnny Gaudreau, and GM Lou Lamoriello has previously indicated that he’d try to upgrade the team’s forward group this offseason. While Kadri is a natural center and the Islanders seem set there with Brock Nelson, Mathew Barzal and JG Pageau, perhaps one of them (or Kadri himself) could shift to the wing.”
Calgary Flames
Johnny Gaudreau signed in Columbus, which leaves the Flames in a tough spot. They had a contending roster in 2021-22, finishing with a 50-21-11 record and reaching the second round of the playoffs, but they now are facing a huge offensive loss with their star player’s departure. They have cap space and have at points been linked to Kadri this offseason, as well as back in 2019, when they tried to acquire him from Toronto. Kadri vetoed that trade in hopes of staying with the Maple Leafs, who proceeded to trade him to Colorado.
Here’s what The Athletic’s Flames writer Hailey Salvian wrote Friday about a potential Kadri fit:
“He drives offence, is reliable at both ends of the ice, and plays a hard, gritty style I’m sure Darryl Sutter would enjoy. But he’s 32 years old and had a career year on one of the most stacked teams in the league, which makes him a dangerous overpay candidate. He turned down a trade to Calgary in the past — though that was in the hopes he could stay in Toronto — so I’m not sure how likely it is for him to sign with the Flames now.”
Nashville Predators
Though perhaps not a Stanley Cup contender, Nashville is a perennial playoff team and has solid forwards with whom Kadri could play. The Predators have had an active offseason, giving Filip Forsberg a massive deal and trading for Ryan McDonagh, but they still have cap space to work with. The addition of Kadri likely wouldn’t make them a championship-level team, but a core of him, Forsberg, Matt Duchene, Roman Josi and Juuse Sarros certainly wouldn’t be one to take lightly.
Seattle Kraken
As The Athletic’s Ryan S. Clark wrote recently, Ron Francis’ quote about his free-agent approach after drafting Shane Wright might be telling.
“I think it’s certainly changed our approach at centerman, right?” Francis said. “If you are looking for centermen (in free agency), you gotta give them seven years and a big number. We’re looking at Matty Beniers and Shane Wright thinking we don’t need to do that at this point. It will be a growing process for those young guys.”
Seattle might find it prudent to give its two young centers ample opportunity without bringing in someone else. And, if the team struggles, it can be sellers at the deadline again and get a high pick in a loaded 2023 draft.
But the Kraken have cap space, and Kadri could help ease the burden on Beniers and Wright as they enter the league — and he’d give Seattle a much more legitimate top-six forward group. Plus he’s friends with former Avalanche winger Andre Burakovsky, who already signed with the Kraken this offseason. A top line of Jaden Schwartz, Kadri and Burakovsky would be respectable, and Beniers could center Jared McCann and Jordan Eberle on a hypothetical second line. That would leave Wright with Joonas Donskoi and Yanni Gourde.
A few long shots
Buffalo Sabres: They have ample cap space and some promising young players, which could lead them to want to take the next step. But this would mean Kadri would be on a non-contender in a smaller U.S. market, which could be a tough sell.
Detroit Red Wings: Steve Yzerman seemed skeptical he’ll do much more in free agency and said he’d be content going into training camp with his current group. As things stand, the Wings would be out on Kadri. They’d have to trade someone for it to come into play.
Anaheim Ducks: They have a lot of young centers and just signed Ryan Strome, so they likely won’t be contenders. But they also have a ton of cap space and are located in Southern California, which could be a draw.
Ottawa Senators: Pierre Dorion has had quite the offseason, and though he has some cap space, he has to keep an eye on next offseason when Alex DeBrincat and Tim Stützle are restricted free agents.
(Top photo: Isaiah J. Downing / USA Today)
Five potential Nazem Kadri free-agency destinations, plus a few long shots - The Athletic
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