Former NHL President Reveals the Reason the Maple Leafs Should Trade for Nazem Kadri
Photo credit: Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers
The former NHL General Manager and President Doug MacLean revealed why the Toronto Maple Leafs should trade for Nazem Kadri.
The injury bug that struck the Toronto Maple Leafs left many holes to fill in the lineup. With Auston Matthews, Max Pacioretty, Calle Jarnkrok, and now Matthew Knies all sidelined with health issues, the Leafs could use more depth in their forward group.
Fans were eager to see Nikita Grebenkin and Fraser Minten in the NHL and they delivered in their first game together, in a 3-0 win over the Vegas Golden Knights.
However, most experts can agree that Toronto should make a move on the trade market to add some talent to the top six.
Doug MacLean, a former NHL GM and President who turned to broadcasting shared an interesting scenario.
According to him, the Leafs should try to acquire their 2009 7th overall draft pick Nazem Kadri back from the Calgary Flames because he could help the team win in the playoffs.
Here's what he said in an intervention on Sportsnet 590 The Fan:
"Toronto [has] got to get Kadri. If [they're] going to play against teams like the Florida Panthers, the Carolina Hurricanes, the New Jersey Devils, or the Rangers in the playoffs.
You go into the playoffs with the Toronto Maple Leafs with Matthews at No. 1, I might have Kadri at No. 2 and Tavares at No. 3. But I'll tell you what, if they get him and they go against Florida [and] these teams, it is going to be a different series."
You go into the playoffs with the Toronto Maple Leafs with Matthews at No. 1, I might have Kadri at No. 2 and Tavares at No. 3. But I'll tell you what, if they get him and they go against Florida [and] these teams, it is going to be a different series."
This season, Kadri, 34, tallies 10 points, including five goals, in 21 games. It hasn't been easy for him in Calgary. He signed a seven-year, $7,000,000 AAV contract with the Flames back in 2022.
At the time, Brad Treliving, the Leafs' current GM, was working in Calgary. It'll be interesting to see if he'll try to bring him back to Toronto, where Kadri spent the first ten years of his professional career.
It'll be interesting what Treliving decides to do to make his team better. He has many options and Kadri could be a good target, especially if the Flames accept to retain a part of his salary.
| POLL | ||
23 NOVEMBRE | 88 ANSWERS Former NHL President Reveals the Reason the Maple Leafs Should Trade for Nazem Kadri Would you like to see Nazem Kadri back with the Toronto Maple Leafs? | ||
| Yes | 32 | 36.4 % |
| No | 56 | 63.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
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