It would be so incredibly cool if the Toronto Maple Leafs brought back Nazem Kadri and won the Stanley Cup with Matthews-Tavares-Kadri down the middle like they were suposed to back before Kadri blew up the dream with his massive immaturity.
That said, the Toronto Maple Leafs don't exactly need another 34-year old signed to a long contract stuck on their roster. With Tavares, Tanev, OEL, Rielly and McCabe, the Leafs already have too many ageing players on their roster.
Furthermore, the Flames likely don't want to trade with their ex-GM, and they are riding the potentially Calder Trophy winning season of Dustin Wolf to a surprising playoff appearence. Other than (admittly appealing) romantic notions, Kadri just doesn't make a ton of sense.
A better option: Trent Frederic of the Boston Bruins.
Trent Frederic should be the Toronto Maple Leafs top trade target
Frederic is a 6'3, 220lbs centre who shoots left, provides elite-level defense and can chip in on offense a lot more than the likes of David Kampf.
He is only 26, and was a late first round pick in 2016. He flirted with 20 goals in each of the last two seasons, but is struggling to score with the Bruins this year.
Even though the Bruins are being outscored by double when Frederic is on the ice this year, he's still breaking even with a 50% Expected Goals Rating. He is huge, he is fast, he is tough-as-hell, he will fight, he will check, and he can score.
Frederick is struggling this season, and he's a pending UFA who only makes $2.3 million dollars against the cap. Maybe the Leafs send the Bruins a couple low picks and David Kamp, and they get a better player who can play higher in the lineup who is much cheaper.
Frederick can play wing or centre, and is a typical Craig Berube player. The important thing for a team that wants to play like the Leafs (north/south, lots of dump ins, shoot from everywhere, don't take chances on offense and get back on D) is to have guys who can score dirty goals. Frederick is the guy for that.
The Leafs have no centre depth, they have no offense in their bottom-six, and they could always get bigger and faster, two things which Frederic will provide. Furthermore, for the last four seasons, Frederick has posted above 50% high-danger chances, which means he would fit perfectly on the Leafs whose main goal under Berube appears to be to limit dangerous chances.
Frederic is likely available, he's big, he fits the Berube template, he is fast, he (potentially at least) provides offense and even has some upside at 26 because he was a pretty big scorer in all levels prior to the NHL. He is an obvious answer for the Toronto Maple Leafs.