Nazem Kadri reveals where his head is at ahead of free agency; will he stay or will he go?
The 2021-22 season was a whirlwind season for Colorado Avalanche forward Nazem Kadri. Not only did he set career highs in assists and points and keep himself on the right side of the line in the postseason for once, but he also skated away with a Stanley Cup for his efforts. All in all, a pretty excellent year for the 31-year-old.
In terms of what comes next for the pending UFA, well, that's another story entirely. Kadri, in his own words, stated that he loves being a member of the Colorado Avalanche and that he would love to come back. However, he has also stated that he knows what he's worth to his team.
Kadri is about to cash in big, and it's really not clear at this point whether the Avs can afford to keep him with Nathan MacKinnon and Bowen Byram among those who will need new deals very soon and the Avs will also need to lock up Darcy Kuemper or replace him with a new number one goaltender. If Kadri wants his next AAV to start with an 8 or higher, it's very likely that the Avs say thanks, but no thanks.
In terms of where Kadri could end up if the Avs opt not to bring him back, I'd imagine that the Philadelphia Flyers would have significant interest. The Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens and Washington Capitals have also been rumoured to be potential landing spots.
This is Kadri's first chance at becoming a UFA and controlling his own fate, so I'd imagine he'll do his due dilligence and find the best fit for him. If he believes that Colorado is the best fit, I wouldn't be too shocked if he settled for the Gabriel Landeskog contract ($7M AAV), but perhaps on a shorter term of 5 or 6 years, given his age. If he does go elsewhere, I'd imagine he'll push for a full 7-year term.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 29 | 246 ANSWERS Nazem Kadri reveals where his head is at ahead of free agency; will he stay or will he go? Will Kadri return with the Avs next season? | ||
| Yes | 125 | 50.8 % |
| No | 121 | 49.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
