Photo Credits: Mark Zaleski/AP
It’s been five years since Nazem Kadri last donned the blue and white for the Toronto Maple Leafs, but to many fans, he is the one player who got away. Toronto traded Kadri to the Colorado Avalanche on July 1st, 2019, in exchange for Tyson Barrie and Alexander Kerfoot. This trade left people with mixed emotions since Kadri played a style of game that Maple Leafs fans loved. Since his departure, there has been a massive void in the Maple Leafs’ lineup at centre. Kadri recently opened up, expressing that a return to Toronto is something he wouldn’t close the door on.
Kadri scored 30 goals twice during his time with Toronto. He brought skill, energy, and toughness every time he stepped onto the ice for the Maple Leafs. Kadri was known for getting under his opponent’s skin. Since his departure, the team has been missing a player like that.
Of course, there are concerns about his playoff past, with Toronto being suspended in back-to-back playoff series against the Boston Bruins in 2018 and 2019, resulting in the team not having him when they needed him most. However, since being traded, Kadri has matured and shown signs of growth, winning a Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022, where he played a big role for the team.
On the ice, the Maple Leafs look good. They’ve added to their defence and goaltending but are missing a left-winger and a centre. Nazem Kadri’s skill set fits perfectly with the Maple Leafs’ needs at centre. Having Kadri down the middle would make Toronto deeper. They could slot Kadri in as a second-line centre and move John Tavares down to the third line to give him a better matchup. Kadri would help with the Leafs’ power play, which has struggled so far this season, giving them another option.
Toronto’s lineup with Kadri could be something like this:
Domi-Matthews-Marner
Knies-Kadri-Nylander
McMann-Tavares-Pacioretty
Lorentz-Holmberg-Dewar
Toronto wants to be known as a physical and heavy team. Kadri checks off all those boxes and is known for his toughness and hard-nosed game. It would be an advantage to them come playoff time.
The question is how a trade could work. Since the Calgary Flames seem like they don’t want to trade with the Maple Leafs, Kadri has four years left on his seven-year, $49 million contract. If a trade were to happen, the Leafs would get Kadri, and in exchange, they could give up Nick Robertson, David Kämpf, Calle Järnkrok, and picks.
In 13 games this season with Calgary, Kadri has four goals and three assists for seven points
A reunion with the Maple Leafs and Nazem Kadri could be very beneficial for both sides, as Kadri has unfinished business with the Maple Leafs, and he would love to be the missing piece that can help Toronto push them over the hump to win the Stanley Cup.
