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Are the Montreal Canadiens cooling off their interest in Nazem Kadri ahead of the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline? In this video we break down the latest insider info and what it means for Montreal’s playoff push and roster-building strategy.
According to league sources, the Canadiens did check in on Calgary Flames centre Nazem Kadri earlier in the season, and he does not have Montreal on his no-trade list — meaning a deal was possible. But as the season progressed and internal roster pieces like Oliver Kapanen, Michael Hage and the addition of Phillip Danault emerged, chatter around Kadri quieted significantly.
📊 In this video we cover:
• Why Montreal was linked to Kadri in the first place 🧐
• What changed and why the interest has cooled off 🔥
• What this means for the Canadiens’ centre depth & playoff hopes 🏒
• Teams still being mentioned as potential Kadri suitors 📈
Don’t miss the trade deadline breakdown and what may happen after the Olympic break — Kadri could still be a name to watch! ⏱️
👇 Let me know in the comments:
👉 Should the Habs re-ignite interest in Kadri?
👉 Or are other targets better fits for Montreal?
#GoHabsGo #MontrealCanadiens #NazemKadri #NHLTradeDeadline #HabsRumors #HockeyTalk
24 Comments
If not Kadri for multiple reasons I'm fine with that but it would be nice to have a younger player who fits Nazim's profile. A tough C with grit who can score.
no kadri for mtl please
Too much devil's advocacy. Kadri is an older player with a contact the Canadiens don't want.
36 year old on a down year, maybe not a down year, maybe age is catching up with him, and he's maybe more of a third line center and not a top six center, I'd rather not give up prime prospects and draft picks for an aging center with a long term deal…..if Kadri was 28, then yeah I would, but I think MTL trades Laine and stands pat for the year with what they have…I see a possible big trade in the summer depending on how Hage works out if he gets some playing time after Michigan season ends
Don’t want Kadri. Not because he wouldn’t be effective – but we aren’t ready to honestly contend. Our defense is still inconsistent. Goaltending not ready. Not time to make “contender” rental trades yet.
Kadri MIGHT be a good fit alongside Suzuki and Cole if there is salary retention. Can take faceoffs on his strong side, good puck retriever, defensively responsible.
That said, I don’t see it happening.
I suspect that Hughes will largely rely on internal moves to improve the team. Any external moves will be modest. Both short and medium term, the greatest improvement will come from the growing impact of the team's current young players (Hutson, Demidov, Slafkovsky , Kapanen, etc.) and the anticipated arrival of Montreal's heralded prospects ( Hage, Engstrom, Zharovsky, Fowler, Beck, Mooney, Paupanekis, etc.). The Canadiens' true window will start in 2027/2028, when a number of the team's older, increasingly unproductive players are finally removed from the roster. I think Hughes understands that the team is on the cusp of transforming itself from the status of competitive to contender and that any of the expensive proposed transactional options that are endlessly bandied about will make little difference in achieving a quicker transformation.
I take Danault over Kadri. Kadri contract is too expensive and too long.
I REALLY don't want an over the hill ex-Leaf!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And it's a horrific contract!!!
If you get Kadri for a song yes ,if not forget it
Habs would need last years Kadri 2 years from now. That is not going to happen. No to Kadri
Too old and not great for their culture.
Trade him to Toronto so he can retire in his hometown.
Jason Robertson is the move. Age appropriate with size, completes the first line for the next 6 years. He's everything they've said their looking for
I am intrigued on whether there’s any smoke behind Habs interest in a player like Robert Thomas. That’s a guy you move some good pieces for. Could something like Kapanen, Xhekaj, D prospect and a draft pick work in a trade for Thomas?
This is not at all complicated to figure out, as you mentioned. Kadri is 36. This team is a year or 2 away from being a serious contender, so obviously that potential move makes little sense. Could I see them adding a veteran center when they are ready for a deep run? Absolutely. But that time is not now.
This team is not a contender yet. Danault wasn't acquired for production but his acquisition pretty much negates the "2C" talk unless they find a super bargain. They'll roll with Kapanen. If anything, it would be a gritty top 6 winger. Danault is there as a defensive/faceoff specialist to lead the young guns in that aspect. Given the right bait, Hughes will make a big move. He has to make a numbers move too.
Good.
Lafreniere. What's the cost to pry him away from the NYR? I think he would blossom under MSL, along side Nick and Cole. Would the Xhekaj Bros. be enough? Plus Dach, maybe?
LA Kings are turning into the NHL's senior home.
Never believed Habs were serious about Kadri. Just too old with a bad contract.
Not a cup contender at the moment but you could say not far off, They are arguably the 2nd best team in the East, Other then Tampa who can you say for sure would beat Montreal in a playoff series in the East, Not Carolina. 6th best team in the league. Colorado, Dallas, Vegas and Minnesota are better then Montreal. So if Montreal made a big trade with the Blues and Added another number one center in Robert Thomas and big right shot D Colton Parayko, Or a top 6 forward to play with Suzuki and Caufield and the big right shot D Are they a Cup contender then?
Detroit imo needs RHD too. I think they are 100% going to do something.
who said it was hot? Elliott fried man.