Veteran centre Nazem Kadri has informed the Calgary Flames that he’s open to a trade, according to a report by The Fourth Period insider and DFO Rundown contributor David Pagnotta.

In a column published on Wednesday afternoon, Pagnotta shared tidbits on a wide range of different Flames players believed to be on the trade block. But the majority of his thoughts revolved around Kadri, who is halfway through the seven-year deal he signed with the Flames as an unrestricted free agent in 2022.

“The smoke is starting to thicken and trade talks involving several other Flames players have picked up in the last few days,” Pagnotta wrote. “Nazem Kadri, Blake Coleman, Ryan Lomberg, MacKenzie Weegar and newly-acquired Zach Whitecloud are among those believed to be generating interest.

“In the case of Kadri, multiple sources have confirmed that while he has not formally requested a trade, he and his camp have informed the Flames he is open to being moved,” Pagnotta added. “The Dallas Stars, Montreal Canadiens, Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild are among the teams that have kicked the tires on Kadri before and are likely some of the teams interested in him now.”

Kadri, 35, has nine goals and 35 points through 52 games this season. The London, Ontario product comes with a $7 million cap hit, which could make him difficult for other teams to fit under the cap, but the Flames also have one more salary retention slot for the 2025-26 season. Whether they use it on Kadri or Blake Coleman — if at all — remains to be seen, although as Pagnotta noted in his report, “industry sources are wagering – unofficially, of course – that [Coleman] is the next Flame on the move.”

The Flames currently sit in 30th place in the NHL with a 21-25-6 record through 52 games. Given Kadri’s pedigree as a Stanley Cup champion and seven-time 20-goal scorer, it tracks that the Flames shouldn’t have too much trouble finding suitors for him — particularly considering the shortage of high-end centres on the trade market.

The Toronto Maple Leafs originally selected Kadri with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2009 NHL Draft. In 1,037 career games with the Flames, Avalanche, and Maple Leafs, Kadri has collected 316 goals and 745 points; he’s added 19 goals and 44 points in 52 playoff contests.

Pagnotta appeared on Wednesday’s edition of the DFO Rundown show with Irfaan Gaffar and spoke at greater length about the rumours surrounding the Flames. That segment begins at the 7:23 mark of the video below:

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