Avalanche Reacquire Stanley Cup Hero Kadri
The Colorado Avalanche have reacquired fan-favorite center Nazem Kadri, who was instrumental in their 2022 Stanley Cup title. The trade has sparked excitement among fans and analysts calling the Avs' forward group "the best in franchise history." Kadri brings physicality and playoff experience back to Denver for another Cup run.
To bring back Nazem Kadri, the Avalanche sent forward Victor Olofsson, unsigned draft pick Max Curran, a conditional 2028 first-round pick, and a conditional 2027 second-round pick to the Calgary Flames. Colorado also received a 2027 fourth-round pick in the deal. The trade was finalized and announced more than an hour after the official trade deadline had passed. The Flames are retaining 20% of Kadri's remaining contract, which means the Avalanche will have a $5.6 million cap hit for the 35-year-old center. Kadri is in the fourth year of a seven-year, $49 million contract he signed with Calgary as a free agent in August 2022. This deal came after he helped Colorado win the Stanley Cup. Kadri was the Flames' leading scorer at the time of the trade, with 41 points (12 goals, 29 assists) in 61 games this season. During his tenure in Calgary, he was a consistent offensive producer, leading the team in goals, assists, and points since the start of the 2022-23 season. The move to reacquire Kadri was part of an aggressive trade deadline for the Avalanche, who also added center Nicolas Roy, and defensemen Nick Blankenburg and Brett Kulak. This bolstered center depth now includes Nathan MacKinnon, Brock Nelson, Kadri, and Roy. In exchange for Kadri, the Flames received 30-year-old winger Victor Olofsson, who had 25 points in 60 games for the Avs and is a pending unrestricted free agent. They also acquired 19-year-old forward prospect Max Curran, who was a fifth-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.
