Another NHL season, another report suggesting the Toronto Maple Leafs are interested in Calgary Flames forward Nazem Kadri.
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This time, the report came from TSN insider Darren Dreger, who named the Maple Leafs as one of several teams that have shown interest in Kadri. They join the Montreal Canadiens, Colorado Avalanche, and Los Angeles Kings as clubs keeping tabs on the veteran forward.
Since Toronto traded him in 2019, there have been periodic reports linking the Maple Leafs to a potential reunion. That speculation picked up even more once Brad Treliving was hired as general manager. So, after all this time, could the Maple Leafs finally bring Kadri back to Toronto?
Dreger Links Maple Leafs to Kadri
On a recent episode of Insider Trading, Dreger discussed Toronto’s interest in Kadri.
“A lot of us are looking at Nazem Kadri among the contenders who could be on the move. What I can tell you is that there are ongoing discussions between Craig Conroy, the general manager, and Nazem Kadri’s camp.
Now, that doesn’t mean anything is imminent, but Kadri wants to do what’s best for the Flames, and he also wants to win a Stanley Cup.
I would say there’s some developing interest. There’s been tire-kicking from Toronto, Montreal, Colorado, LA, maybe the Dallas Stars. But there’s still a lot of work to get done, and there’s no rush as far as Calgary is concerned.”
With the Flames clearly selling off assets as they move deeper into a long overdue rebuild, Kadri stands out as one of their biggest potential trade chips. He joins names like Blake Coleman and possibly newly acquired Zach Whitecloud as players who could be moved ahead of the March 6, 2026 NHL Trade Deadline.
Is the Maple Leafs’ Interest Legitimate?
Honestly, this feels more like noise than something that is truly realistic. The idea of Kadri returning to Toronto is a storyline that never seems to go away, and it always generates attention. As much as Leafs Nation would love to see it happen, the logistics make it hard to envision. Kadri, now 35, is signed through the 2028-29 season and carries a $7 million cap hit. That alone makes a deal incredibly difficult for the Maple Leafs, especially with other areas of the roster that need attention.
The biggest need for Toronto right now is clearly on the blue line. While additional secondary scoring would help, the defence has been hit hard by injuries, and that should be the priority. If the Maple Leafs can address that need with a lower-cost move, such as adding someone like Luke Schenn or another mid-tier defenceman with a manageable cap hit, then revisiting the idea of Kadri might make more sense.
However, their ideal target on defence remains Dougie Hamilton. He fits exactly what this team is missing, but his cap hit alone would almost certainly remove Toronto from the Kadri conversation. On top of that, the Maple Leafs simply do not have the asset pool to pull off multiple major trades of that magnitude.
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As appealing as a reunion would be, bringing Kadri back to Toronto does not feel realistic. It would likely complicate the Maple Leafs’ ability to address their most pressing needs and improve the roster in meaningful ways. For that reason, it may be wiser for them to look elsewhere as the trade deadline approaches.
