Recently, different media outlets have talked about a potential reunion between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Nazem Kadri; but the question is does it make sense?
The Toronto Maple Leafs drafted the former London Knight with the seventh overall pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft and he would become a heart and soul player for the club where he tended to cross the line for teammates that led to some untimely suspensions.
Former general manager Kyle Dubas would make arguably his worst move during his enture with the club when he traded Kadri to the Colorado Avalanche, along with a third round pick for Alex Kerfoot, Tyson Barrie and a sixth round pick. Dubas would try to play it off as a salary dump, but he would then sign a much lesser talent in Kerfoot for nearly the same cap hit, along with adding Barrie.
Maple Leaf fans would watch another former player go on to win the Stanley Cup when Kadri lifted the prized trophy after he collected 15-points in 16 playoff games which came along with an 87-point regular season. This would lead to him signing with the Calgary Flames on a seven-year deal worth $49 Million ($7M cap hit).
The London, Ontario native is now in year three of that deal and with the Calgary Flames struggling to hold onto a playoff spot their have been rumblings that a Kadri return to Toronto is a possibility. Speculation was fueled when Jeff Marek stated on his podcast earlier this week that he believed that somewhere down the road he would think the Maple Leafs would make a pitch for Kadri as he brings a toughness that the team will need to get past the Florida Panthers in the playoffs.
Nazem Kadri may push for a deal
The past few months, Kadri has stated that he has not ruled out the possibility of a return at some point to Toronto before his career is over and when you add in current Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving attempted to trade for him when he was being shopped by the Maple Leafs and then ultimately signed him when he became a free agent.
The big issue with acquiring Kadri is the contract carries $7 million cap hit with four more years left after this season. The Maple Leafs are currently trying to reach an extension with John Tavares where the hope should be to have a contract under $5 million per season. The Kadri deal would counteract a Tavares extension and depending what you want to do with the former captain, it may push him out.
It would be nice to get Kadri back into the fold, unfortunately with four years left on that contract on a player who is already 34-years of age the Maple Leafs would be taking on a very big risk that he declines quickly and hampers the team. The only way anything would work out is if the Calgary Flames or a third team retains salary, and even then, it's probably a bad idea.
The rumblings of a Kadri reunion just don't make sense; and there just may be better, safer and cheaper options out there.