Kadri Returns to Colorado
Nazem Kadri is heading back to the Colorado Avalanche in a trade deadline deal with Calgary. The Flames' top scorer returns to the team he helped win a championship, as Calgary pivots toward a rebuild with younger talent. This marks one of the most impactful moves on deadline day.
To facilitate the reunion, the Flames retained 20% of Kadri's $7 million annual salary, a sticking point that nearly scuttled the deal before Calgary's ownership ultimately approved the move. In return for their leading scorer, Calgary received a package focused on the future: a conditional 2028 first-round pick, a conditional 2027 second-round pick, forward Victor Olofsson, and prospect Max Curran. Kadri's first stint in Colorado was a resounding success, culminating in a Stanley Cup championship in 2022. During that final season with the Avalanche, he posted career-highs in assists (59) and points (87). He was a crucial part of that championship run, contributing seven goals and 15 points during the playoffs. The 35-year-old center signed his seven-year, $49 million contract with Calgary as a free agent in August 2022. To even create the necessary salary cap space for that signing, the Flames had to trade away Sean Monahan and a first-round pick to the Montreal Canadiens. This trade is the latest and most significant move in a clear teardown for the Flames under General Manager Craig Conroy. Earlier in 2026, the team had already traded away top defensemen MacKenzie Weegar and Rasmus Andersson, signaling a firm commitment to a youth movement. The team also acquired center Ryan Strome from Anaheim on deadline day for a late-round draft pick.
