It’s that time of year again when the rumor mill is warming up, and teams are starting to look around the league to see what’s out there. Some are patient, others are already getting itchy to make a move. Every front office has its own clock. And right now, one situation in particular seems to be stuck on pause, and it’s not because of money or performance, but because of timing.
Is One NHL Team Hitting Pause Before Making a Major Move?
That’s where Nazem Kadri and the Calgary Flames come in. Calgary’s start hasn’t been great, and when a team begins to slide early, the trade chatter starts almost immediately. The $49 million All-Star’s name has come up again, but according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, fans shouldn’t expect anything to happen soon.
On the “32 Thoughts” podcast, Friedman said there’s less probability of a move before Kadri hits his 1,000th NHL game, which could arrive sometime in early November.
It makes sense. Kadri’s been through a lot in this league and is closing in on a personal milestone that matters to players. You can tell both sides want that moment to happen in a Flames jersey. After that? Things could change in a hurry.
The 35-year-old center is in year three of a seven-year, $49 million deal he signed back in 2022. It comes with a 13-team no-trade list, and that detail alone has sparked curiosity.
As Friedman put it, there are teams all over it, trying to find out if they’re blocked or not. You get the sense that a few GMs are quietly preparing in case Calgary opens the door later.
“If it’s a no trade, everybody sits there and says, all right, we’ll figure this out. We’ll make a deal with Kadri, and if we have to convince him, we’ll convince him… when you find out it’s a partial… you’re like, what? We’re there? We like this guy. How do we get off of there?” he said.
The Flames’ position only fuels the talk. Sitting near the bottom of the standings again, they’re facing some tough decisions. In these situations, veterans like Kadri often draw attention from playoff hopefuls looking to add experience and bite down the middle.
But for now, the message from Calgary seems that he’s staying put until that 1,000th game is done.
Kadri’s numbers don’t tell the whole story either. He’s picked up seven points in ten games so far and continues to drive play on Calgary’s top line. Even with the team struggling to score, his compete level hasn’t dipped.
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Once the milestone is out of the way, things could look different. Kadri’s modified no-trade clause gives the team some room to work with, and you can bet contenders will circle back. Proven centers with playoff experience don’t exactly grow on trees, and Kadri’s track record still carries weight.
The Flames have spent years in that middle ground. They are not bad enough to rebuild, not good enough to truly contend. The core’s getting older, the scoring has dried up a bit, and the sense around the league is that something’s got to give. Whether that means a full reset or just a few big moves, we’ll see.
Kadri’s milestone feels like a pause button. Once he hits 1,000 games, the conversations could pick up fast, and what Calgary decides next might say a lot about where this franchise really thinks it’s headed
