*Photo from Mile High Sports*
One of the best free agents is finally off the board late in free agency. The Calgary Flames and C Nazem Kadri have agreed to a 7 year, $49 million contract, according to Eliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. The Flames have confirmed the deal.
Flames GM Brad Treliving said of getting Kadri that "Nazem is a highly competitive, top-six player who makes our center ice position deep. He brings a high skill level and determination to our group combined with his recent experience of a Stanley Cup championship. We look forward to welcoming Nazem and his family to Calgary, and his contributions to our team's ultimate success."
This summer, Kadri became a UFA after helping the Colorado Avalanche win the Stanley Cup. Unlike most top free agents, he did not sign in day one of free agency, and waited for a while. Now Kadri has a big deal in hand. He makes $7 million annually and has a full no movement clause for the first 5 seasons of the deal, followed by a modified no trade clause for the final 3. His contract expires following the 2028-2029 season.
Kadri said of joining Calgary that "I couldn't be more thrilled to join such a passionate fan base and organization. I've always loved the city of Calgary, and I look forward to giving everything I have to this team. Winning a Stanley Cup is a true honor, and it only makes you want it more. I would love nothing more but to see another banner in Calgary. Go Flames go."
With the Avalanche last season, Kadri put up fantastic numbers. He ended the year with 28 goals and 59 assists, posting a +13 plus/minus rating over 19:14 of ice time, playing in 71 regular season games. In the playoffs, he tallied 7 goals and 8 assists in 16 games.
Kadri has spent 13 seasons in the NHL, all with the Avalanche and Toronto Maple Leafs. He has 219 goals and 293 assists to his name, recording a -14 plus/minus rating in 17:06 of ice time per game in 739 regular season games. He has an additional 19 goals and 25 assists in 52 career playoff games.
Treliving continued about Kadri, saying "I think it's fairly well-known that we tried to trade for Naz back when he was in Toronto. He's got a unique combination of skill and snarl and he plays a premier position at center ice. He's a unique player. He's got skill. I think watching him over his career, he's really developed the ability to play in all sorts of situations as guys do over their career, they mature. But that blend is unique. He can play on a power play, he can play heavy, he's highly competitive, highly skilled, smart player, plays center ice. He's our kind of player."
The signing of Kadri continues what has been a whirlwind of an offseason for the Flames. Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk are gone, and the Flames have brought in Kadri to pair with new acquisitions Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar.
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