The Calgary Flames may have lost Matthew Tkachuk and Johnny Gaudreau, but they certainly aren’t rebuilding. After trading Sean Monahan to the Montreal Canadiens to clear enough cap space, the team has signed free agent forward Nazem Kadri to a seven-year, $49MM ($7MM AAV) contract. PuckPedia has the full details:
- 2022-23: $4.5MM salary + $2.5MM signing bonus
- 2023-24: $4.5MM salary + $2.5MM signing bonus
- 2024-25: $4.5MM salary + $2.5MM signing bonus
- 2025-26: $4.5MM salary + $2.5MM signing bonus
- 2026-27: $6.0MM salary + $1.0MM signing bonus
- 2027-28: $7.0MM salary
Kadri, 31, came into the summer as one of the top free agents on the market after an incredible season with the Colorado Avalanche that included a career-high 87 points and resulted in a Stanley Cup championship. It’s not often a player of that caliber sits on the open market for more than a month but it appears as though the Flames and general manager Brad Treliving (whose birthday is today) are going to be the beneficiaries. Kadri comes to town along with Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar, completely changing the look of the team and essentially replacing the production of Gaudreau and Tkachuk.
Treliving released the following statement:Nazem is a highly competitive top six player who makes our centre ice position deep. He brings a high skill level and determination to our group combined with his recent experience of a Stanley Cup championship. We look forward to welcoming Nazem and his family to Calgary and his contributions to our team’s ultimate success.
The issue some will point to is the age of the two-way pivot, who will turn 32 in October, and how he had never really come close to his 2021-22 level of production previously. While that is true, Kadri also offers some things outside his overall offensive production that can make him a valuable part of the team. A strong defensive player who has received Selke Trophy votes on three occasions, he is also willing to engage physically and has had a knack for scoring at clutch moments. Avalanche fans will fondly remember his first playoff run with the team when he led all postseason players with five game-winning goals in just 15 appearances.
Of course, as good as those two performances were, you can’t discuss Kadri without mentioning his other postseason escapades. Three times–twice for the Toronto Maple Leafs and once for Colorado–he has been suspended in the playoffs, arguably costing his team a chance at advancing. While he can say that part of his game is behind him, the most recent incident was just a year ago, and there’s no guarantee he won’t do something to jeopardize his team again in the future.
Still, adding a player like this to the mix keeps the Flames’ competitive window wide open, at least for the next couple of seasons. The Huberdeau extension and this long-term deal for Kadri will likely not end well, though, with the salary cap expected to increase significantly down the road, they at least will get some relief.
One other thing that might be brought up is how Kadri blocked a trade to the Flames just a few years ago, when the Maple Leafs tried to send him west in exchange for T.J. Brodie. The London, Ontario native explained that decision earlier this year in a piece for the Player’s Tribune, saying that it had nothing to do with Calgary and everything to do with trying to stay in Toronto, where he wanted to win. The Maple Leafs would end up sending him to Colorado, a team he couldn’t block, and signed Brodie in free agency instead.
The only way the Flames can afford a player like Kadri is by moving out considerable salary, and that’s what a Monahan trade represents. The 27-year-old forward has a $6.375MM cap hit for next season and has completely fallen off a cliff in terms of production over the last few years. Once a consistent 30-goal, 60-point center, Monahan had just eight goals and 23 points in 65 games this year while seeing his ice time drop to just 14 minutes a night. Injury has hampered his game significantly, and there’s no telling at this point if he’ll ever get back to being a top-six contributor.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
bigdaddyt
Nice for naz, weird though considering he refused a trade there. Shame the Johnny and Monny era didn’t turn out different
padam
Wasn’t like the good teams had the cash to pay for him, nor did he have many options left after waiting. Still think he did very well for himself.
The Mistake of Giving Eugene Melnyk a Liver Transplant
Where were they then versus now.
Grocery stick
If this stands true, Calgary will be a nasty team to play against. I’m not really into Coach Sutter’s old school style but I like seeing different approaches throughout the league.
DarkSide830
Calgary better win soon or else things are gonna look ugly.
Nha Trang
Things are going to look ugly no matter what. This sets them up for a lovely old Suter-Parise shackles around their wrists unless (sharply bucking the odds) Huberdeau and Kadri are somehow elite players deep into their 30s.
fljay73
How?
pawtucket
Gudreau left town. That’s how
fljay73
Outside of last season Johnny didn’t light it up that great the previous 2. If Kadri puts up 70+ points going forward Calgary did alright this off-season.
deron867
He may put up 70 points for a two or theee years, but when he’s 35, 36, 37 or 38 that contract may be ugly
goalieguy41
He’s not putting up 70 points in Calgary. Maybe 45 with a 8-10 suspension in there
fljay73
Maybe. All depends. Some players do age well.
MacJablonski--NotVegasLegend
Well, this qualifies as somewhat unexpected, given CGY’s cap situation. Now they have to deal with Monahan’s M-NTC, and find someone willing to send back two bags of pucks and some dirt (aka trade for cap relief).
mattc68
They won’t even get the two bags of pucks. Calgary will need to send a high pick (I’m guessing a 2023 1st) along with Monahan just to get into “future considerations” territory.
Nha Trang
Good guess, obviously.
Bucky76
Will not be the same player as last years version…
Polish Hammer
That’s a given, his production maxed out last year. But Colorado can’t afford to bring him back at that salary so I can’t blame him for moving on.
Y2KAK
Islanders fans are pissed including me
MotownWings83
You should be happy Lou didn’t give him 7×7.
phar lap
Not this Islanders fan. Awful contract that gets worse every year. Lou has had a poor off-season, but thankfully dodged this bullet. I’d rather just sign Kessel for a year and see how the young wings develop.
Y2KAK
The reason I’m pissed is because isles had the opportunities to sign so many good goal scoring forwards but Lou decides old Josh Bailey is good enough. Oh and the only transaction the isles have made since FA opened is sign draft pick Calle odelius. I’m done with Lou
phar lap
Agreed on Bailey and Matt Martin. I really wanted Lou to grab Mason Marchment.
top jimmy
Huge overpay. That contract is going to look terrible in his late 30s.
M34
Feels like term was the sticking point for kadri. I was hoping colorado would offer him around 7MM for three years and negotiate up to four, but no way can they afford 7×7.
Good for Naz though.
MacJablonski--NotVegasLegend
This “overpay” (and every other contract seen as such) will be less onerous going forward, if and only if —
1. The escrow gets paid back faster AND
2. TV revenue increases on a steady, upward trajectory AND
3. More $$$ gets back into the peoples’ pockets, so they can afford to get back to being the treasured “butts in the seats.”
Right now, it’s almost akin to “deficit spending”, and needs all the ducks to line up for an economically healthy league.
MotownWings83
Apparently the Flames just traded Monahan to the Hans to creat the cap space.
jdefranza
Lol dang.
Flames better do damage this year. This one of the worst contracts I’ve seen.
Giving essentially a 32yo 7 yrs!!!? At $7mill?! After there first 80+ pt season…
Kadri has a hell of a agent to get this one pulled doff.
User 318310488
This Is a reckless move by Treliving to save his disastrous summer but I don’t think It will end well. The Flames will probably have to pay up to unload Monahan to, Another bad move.
Ducey
Wow, Just had 87 points in 71 games, but before that his season totals since 16-17 are: 55, 44, 36, 32. See a trend?
The Flames better hope last year wasnt the dead cat bounce.
Bloodbath
Also played third line center on the leafs so
Bloodbath
But I do agree term is way to long for a 32 year old
Sunshine swede
Congrats Kadri! 7×7 for a soon to be 32 year player with one top-season must be the worst decision any team has done recently!
blueavenger77
Yikes, really bad deal in my opinion. Too much term for a guy who is 32 this October not to mention losing a 1st to move Monahan to make this work under the cap.
Gbear
The money/term aside, I admire how Treliving took a bad situation and, at least in terms of on ice talent, put together a good roster for next season.
I fully expect the Avs to sign Stastny now.
jdefranza
So much for wanting to join a “contender..”
About to apart of a rebuild for 6 yrs of that term.
Artem99
The question is will Calgary get Erik Karlssoned by this contract in a couple of years
pawtucket
Hehehe
brucenewton
If they’re as healthy as last year, book the red mile parade this year.