The Montreal Canadiens are looking to add a key piece to their roster and are looking at a second-line center in a trade. One target they may be keeping a close eye on is veteran forward Nazem Kadri, who is currently on a $49 million contract and plays for the fast-sinking Calgary Flames team. Kadri has been linked to Montreal in trade talks before, but a move seems more likely these days as the Flames appear unable to find an identity or rhythm and could start selling pieces to get the best possible draft odds in 2026.
Kadri could immediately fill the team’s second-line role and he has been open to the idea of Montreal in the past.
During a spot on a recent episode from The sick podcast, former Canadiens center Maxim Lapierre called Kadri “the perfect fit” for Montreal, praising the 35-year-old’s two-way game, physicality and experience. Co-host Pierre McGuire agreed, saying they’ve talked about Kadri as a strike in the past, noting the center’s Stanley Cup experience and locker room credibility. The Canadiens are building a culture in Montreal, and Kadri would be a nice addition as a hard-working, high-character guy.
Kadri has maintained strong production despite his age, scoring 67 points (35 goals, 32 assists) last season after a 75-point season in 2023-24. His style – heavy, skilled and defensively responsible – could make him the ideal partner for Alex Newhook, while helping younger players like Ivan Demidov integrate into Montreal’s lineup.
Salary cap considerations will come into play as Kadri has a $7 million cap hit while Montreal currently has around $5.1 million in cap space. The Flames would be looking for younger pieces or draft picks in return, assuming they embrace a full rebuild.
For Montreal, Kadri represents the potential piece that most insiders and analysts believe the team is missing. With one of the better, younger, cost-controlled rosters in the NHL, they have been wanting to upgrade to the second-line center position for a while. The Canadiens have been linked to Sidney Crosby and others, but Kadri seems like a realistic player.
Acquiring Kadri could be a calculated gamble, but a formidable second-line center capable of taking Montreal’s middle six to the next level.
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