Can the Montreal Canadiens land a top-six center from the Calgary Flames?
The Montreal Canadiens have a few items to take care of on their summer to-do list. Adding some offensive talent in the form of a promising young winger or second-line center is high on the list. In light of recent injury news regarding Kirby Dach, the latter should become priority number one.
Heavy.com proposed a deal that would see the Canadiens acquire star center Nazem Kadri from the Calgary Flames.
Canadiens Acquire:
- Nazem Kadri ($7,000,000)
Flames Acquire:
- Patrik Laine ($8,700,000)
The proposed deal would be a one-for-one blockbuster. The Canadiens would receive a top-six center with a Stanley Cup win under his belt. Conversely, the Flames acquire a forward with one year left on his contract that would add offense to the team this season, with the flexibility to sign Laine long-term if the fit is there.
In this proposal, the Canadiens receive Kadri. The 34-year-old pivot was drafted seventh overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2009. The 6-foot, 185 lb Ontario native recorded a 35-goal, 67-point season in 2024-25.
The Flames receive Laine in return. The 27-year-old brings size (6-foot-4, 208 lb) and goal-scoring prowess to any team he is on. He was the second-overall selection in the 2016 draft by the Winnipeg Jets. In the 2024-25 season, he finished with decent production in the form of 20 goals and 33 points in 52 games.
A Kadri-Laine swap would lighten the Canadiens’ salary by $1.7 million. That wouldn’t completely resolve their cap conundrum, but it would give them more flexibility and make them a better team in the process.
Health Concerns Turn the Heat Up on the Canadiens
In the last few days, reports have come out regarding Dach’s health.
Maxime Truman of DansLesCouliness reported that the chances of Dach being ready for training camp are unlikely. He also acknowledged that a second-line center has risen up the board in terms of what the Canadiens need.
“Let’s just say that the chances of Dach starting his season at the same time as everyone else in two months are still pretty slim,” Truman wrote. “Which is enough to worry those hoping to see the Canadiens make the playoffs in 2026. A second center is more important than a sixth defenseman.”
Truman cited that sources had seen Dach working out. But not working out to get stronger – working out as a method of rehabbing his knee injury.
“Good sources spotted him in an Edmonton gym,” Truman continued. “(He was) doing squats with weights that look like the ones I used to take when I went to Econofitness, not the ones an NHL player uses.”
Kadri Wants to Play for the Canadiens
Kadri is a 15-year NHL veteran who can bring a lot of experience to the Canadiens. And, according to Nick Kypreos, he would be willing to waive his no-move clause to go to one of two Eastern Conference teams in Canada.
“Kadri could still possibly be a contributing piece when some of the youth blossoms,” Kypreos wrote. “A trade now could also bring Calgary a package that would help them more in the long-term. And that return would improve if the Flames also retain salary.”
“Two teams that Kadri continues to be linked to and appear to be willing to lift his no-move clause for are the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs.”
Kypreos goes on to say that the Maple Leafs’ chances of acquiring Kadri may be lower than some Toronto fans would like.
“Toronto’s Brad Treliving has tried numerous times to trade with his old club in the past, only to be shut down by the Flames on Tanev, Zadorov, and Andersson, so it may be a stretch for the Leafs to land Kadri.”
Kadri has four years left on his contract.
Caleb Kerney Caleb covers the NHL for Heavy.com. He has covered professional hockey since 2022, including bylines at Dobber Prospects, The Hockey Writers, and The Hockey News. More about Caleb Kerney
