Kadri signs seven-year, $49 million contract with Flames

Nazem Kadri
signed a seven-year, $49 million contract with the Calgary Flames on Thursday. It has an average annual value of $7 million.

The 31-year-old forward scored 28 goals and set NHL career highs in assists (59), points (87), and power-play points (29) in 71 regular-season games for the Colorado Avalanche last season. He also tied his NHL career high with six game-winning goals.
Kadri then had 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in 16 playoff games to help the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup for the first time since 2001. He scored the overtime winner in Game 4 of the Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning, his first after missing four games because of a broken thumb.
"Calgary was interested from Day One, which is always something I've respected and acknowledged," Kadri said. "It (free agency) was definitely a tricky process, but there were some decisions to be made. Obviously, I'm a Canadian boy (born in London, Ontario). I love the country of Canada, love the city of Calgary, and more importantly, the direction of the team. Really, when it boiled down to decision-making time, those were the aspects of signing with Calgary.
"Ultimately, it's about winning and about being a contender, and I feel that played a huge factor in me coming to Calgary. Just understanding that the time is now, and it certainly could be close with the moves we've made and me hopping on board. I'm just excited to meet the guys."
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Selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs with the No. 7 pick in the 2009 NHL Draft, Kadri has 512 points (219 goals, 293 assists) in 739 regular-season games for the Avalanche and Maple Leafs, and 44 points (19 goals, 25 assists) in 52 playoff games.
"Nazem is a highly competitive, top-six player who makes our center ice position deep," Calgary general manager Brad Treliving said. "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."
Calgary had previously tried to acquire Kadri from Toronto in 2019, but the forward used the no-trade clause in his contract to veto the trade.
Kadri was then traded to the Avalanche on July 1, 2019.
"I think it's fairly well-known that we tried to trade for 'Naz' back when he was in Toronto," Treliving said. "He's got a unique combination of skill and snarl and he plays a premier position at center ice. He's a unique player. He's got skill. I think watching him over his career, he's really developed the ability to play in all sorts of situations as guys do over their career, they mature. But that blend is unique. He can play on a power play, he can play heavy, he's highly competitive, highly skilled, smart player, plays center ice. He's our kind of player."
The Flames also traded center Sean Monahan and a conditional first-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft to the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday for future considerations.
Monahan had a career-worst 23 points (eight goals, 15 assists) in 65 games last season. The 27-year-old forward played his final game March 31 because of surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right hip.
It was the second straight season Monahan has had the same surgery. He also had wrist surgery after the 2016-17 season, and four surgeries, one for his wrist and groin, and two to repair hernias, after being shut down near the end of the 2017-18 season.
"He sounds incredibly encouraged that for the first time in a long time he's going to play a season healthy," Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes said. "I don't know if that's going to be game one of the season or if it's going to be game four of the season. But he feels like he's, even today, not at 100 percent, way better than he's been for the last few years."
Selected by Calgary with the No. 6 pick in the 2013 NHL Draft, Monahan has 462 points (212 goals, 250 assists) in 656 regular-season games and 21 points (10 goals, 11 assists) in 30 playoff games. He has one season remaining on a seven-year contract with Calgary on Aug. 19, 2016.
"On behalf of the entire Flames organization, I sincerely thank Sean for his nine years of selfless dedication and perseverance," Treliving said. "Sean was a great Flame, a first-class individual who exemplified the definition of respect. Our team and city were fortunate to have him as a player, ambassador and member of our community. We wish Sean and his wife Brittany every success in this new chapter of their lives, and once again say thank you."
Thursday continued a busy offseason for the Flames (50-21-11), who won the Pacific Division last season before losing to the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference Second Round.
Forward Johnny Gaudreau, who was tied for second in the NHL last season with 115 points (40 goals, 75 assists), signed a seven-year, $68.25 million contract ($9.75 million AAV) with the Columbus Blue Jackets on July 13, and forward Matthew Tkachuk, who was second on the Flames with 104 points (42 goals, 62 assists), was traded to the Florida Panthers on July 22 for forward Jonathan Huberdeau, defenseman MacKenzie Weegar, forward prospect Cole Schwindt and a conditional first-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
The Flames then signed Huberdeau, who tied Gaudreau for second in the League with 115 points (30 goals, 85 assists) last season, to an eight-year, $84 million contract extension ($10.5 million AAV) on Aug. 4.
Calgary also signed forward Andrew Mangiapane to a three-year, $17.4 million contract ($5.8 million AAV), and defenseman Oliver Kylington to a two-year, $5 million contract ($2.5 million AAV) on Aug. 2. Each was a restricted free agent and avoided a salary arbitration hearing.
"It's been busy, there's no question we've been busy," Treliving said. "We've been fortunate enough to, you know, get some things done. I think we've made our team better by adding Naz and that's nothing against 'Mony' at all. We're going to continue to do that. … If we can still tweak some things up front, we'll continue to look at it."