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As the Toronto Maple Leafs continue to maneuver a long list of injuries on offense, it was reported on Thursday by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman that the club was among the few teams in the market for center depth.
Related: Report: Maple Leafs Among Teams Looking For A Center In The Trade Market To Address Depth Concerns
According to a Friday report from former NHL general manager and head coach Doug MacLean, who spoke on the Real Kyper and Bourne show on Friday, current Calgary Flames forward Nazem Kadri is on the Leafs’ radar.
“Look, I said earlier today that was the gist of my whole show tonight is that Toronto has got to get Kadri. They gotta go get him. They have gotta go get him,” Maclean said. “If you’re gonna play against the teams in the playoffs, the Florida Panthers, the Carolina Hurricanes, the New Jersey Devils, the New York Rangers, they need a Kadri.”
“I know people in Toronto are gonna say, ‘that MacLean is clueless,’ but I’m telling you, if I’m Brad Treliving – and I hear they’re kicking tires, I heard today that they were kicking tires there – Treliving has his hands full because of a little animosity there because he left and the Huberdeau deal still stings the ownership there.”
“Everything he could do in his power, you go into the playoffs with the Toronto Maple Leafs with Matthews at 1, I might have Kadri at 2 and Tavares at 3, but I’ll tell you what if they get him and they go against Florida and these teams, it’s going to be a different series.”
As of now, Toronto is facing a roster crunch, with seven forwards sidelined due to injury or suspension. Ryan Reaves is serving a five-game suspension, Matthew Knies is day-to-day (upper-body), while Auston Matthews (upper-body), Calle Jarnkrok (groin/sports hernia), David Kampf (lower-body), Max Domi (lower-body), and Max Pacioretty (lower-body) are all unavailable.
The club has been forced to rely on the AHL Toronto Marlies for help, bringing up Nikita Grebenkin, Fraser Minten, and Alex Nylander – all who skated on a line together at practice on Saturday.
However, the team may require more than just short-term solutions.
Related: ‘I Know What I Can Do At The NHL Level’: Why Alex Nylander Believes He’s Ready For Maple Leafs Debut Against Utah Hockey Club
Kadri’s Fit in Toronto – Should the Club Pursue Him?
Kadri, known for his tenacious style of play and leadership, spent 10 seasons with the Maple Leafs after being drafted seventh overall in 2009. He eventually left Toronto in 2019, traded to the Colorado Avalanche as part of a deal that saw the Leafs acquire Tyson Barrie and Alex Kerfoot. Since his departure, Kadri has enjoyed success, including winning the Stanley Cup with Colorado in 2022. He then signed with the Flames in the summer of 2022.
The 34-year-old still has four years remaining on his seven-year, $49 million contract.
Related: Former Maple Leafs Forward Nazem Kadri Signs Seven-Year, $49 Million Deal With Calgary Flames
His time in Toronto wasn’t without its controversy, he had five suspensions from 2013-2019, including a team-imposed suspension in 2015. Most notably, he was suspended in back-to-back postseasons against the Boston Bruins in 2018 and 2019, with this sequence of events ultimately leading to his trade out of Toronto.
However, his playstyle would fit seamlessly into the new system under general manager Brad Treliving and head coach Craig Berube while at the same time, addressing the center depth the team needs. As mentioned by MacLean, the Eastern Conference poses a gauntlet of opponents in the postseason and his help could provide a significant boost.
In October, the London, Ontario native joined The Leaf Report podcast with James Mirtle and Jonas Siegel to promote his memoir and reflect on his career. When asked about the possibility of one day returning to Toronto in some capacity, Kadri said he wouldn’t close the door on a reunion with the Leafs.
“I mean, who knows? I would definitely not put that out of the equation for sure,” he explained. “I mean, everybody knows how I feel about the city and the team and got lots of friends there but certainly something you wouldn’t close the door on.”
Related: ‘Certainly Something You Wouldn’t Close The Door On’: Former Maple Leafs Forward Nazem Kadri Open To Possible Reunion In Toronto
In the summer, the Flames were receiving inquiries on Kadri amid a “roster reset” but considering his contract limitations and a no-movement clause, there was no transaction amongst any team in the NHL.
Related: Flames Receiving Inquiries on Former Maple Leafs Forward Nazem Kadri Amid Roster Reset; Should Toronto Look to Re-Acquire Him?
Though the idea of bringing in Kadri presents plenty of upside, there are emotional and logistical challenges involved in bringing him back. Not only considering his departure from the Leafs but there are lingering negative feelings from Calgary’s ownership about the trade that sent Jonathan Huberdeau to the Flames (the deal was made by Treliving).
The phrase “kicking tires” implies that the Leafs are casually exploring the possibility of a trade for Kadri, but there are complications – both in terms of past relationships and the business side of things – that Treliving would need to navigate. Moreover, Treliving couldn’t acquire defenseman Chris Tanev from the Flames at last season’s trade deadline, needing to wait until free agency. It’s tough to envision a different scenario this time around.
Related: Report: Stars’ Offer Was Insufficient Compared to Maple Leafs’ Proposal in Chris Tanev Sweepstakes
Not to mention Kadri’s contract presents a potential roadblock. With the Leafs already operating in a cap-tight situation, adding a player with a $7 million annual cap hit would require some creative maneuvering and retention.
The possibility of re-acquiring Kadri is certainly intriguing. While it may seem like a long shot, his skill, experience, and physical play would likely help the Leafs in the postseason. Whether or not any deal reaches the surface remains to be seen, given the hurdles needed to be jumped over between both parties.
In his time with the Leafs, he played in 561 regular season games and scored 161 goals while adding 196 assists. In the postseason, he appeared in 19 games, scoring three goals paired with seven assists.
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