The Montreal Canadiens may be looking to grab yet another star veteran center ahead of the trade deadline. Montreal recently acquired Phillip Danault from the Los Angeles Kings in December. The move has worked out fairly well for the Canadiens, as the center has six points in 14 games. Danault also only cost his new club a second-round draft pick.
Although Montreal may now seem set at the position, the team is now being linked with another move. TSN’s Darren Dreger revealed on January 20 that the Calgary Flames are working on a potential trade involving Nazem Kadri. According to the NHL insider, Flames GM Craig Conroy is talking with the star center about a move. Dreger also asserts that at least five teams are interested in Kadri, including the Canadiens.
Dreger then followed up this report by claiming that while Montreal has an interest in the player, they do have some reservations. “[The interest level is] Moderate,” Dreger said on TSN690 on January 21. “You’re talking about a 35-year-old player who still has three years remaining on his contract. I wouldn’t say that Nazem Kadri is high on the list for [Canadiens GM] Kent Hughes.”
Nazem Kadri Could be a Short-Term Solution at Center for the Montreal Canadiens
GettyNazem Kadri currently leads the Calgary Flames in points during the 2025-26 season.
The biggest issue for Hughes and the Canadiens is that Kadri could essentially block the development of Michael Hage. Dreger pointed out this potential problem earlier in January. The 19-year-old center is highly regarded within the club, although he is still at the University of Michigan. Despite these concerns, Dreger believes that Kadri could hold Hage’s place until he is truly ready.
“You’re looking at Michael Hage, who’s on his way, and you certainly don’t want to block what he may be at the NHL level,” continued Dreger. “But in theory, let’s say it takes him two-plus years to get up to speed. There is a world where you can visualize Nazem Kadri for a couple of seasons, then, as a 37-year-old, you deal with it at that point.”
As Dreger points out, the Flames and Kadri are working together to iron out a potential move because of the details in the player’s contract. The veteran has a 13-team no-trade list in his $7 million AAV deal. Montreal, however, is not expected to be on this list. Dreger also believes that Kadri could very well see himself as a good fit with the Canadiens.
Canadiens Prefer to Target a Different Flames Forward
While Kadri may be viewed as a luxury acquisition for Montreal, they would rather grab another Flames forward. NHL insider Pierre LeBrun previously reported that Calgary winger Blake Coleman was high on the team’s list. Coleman is viewed as a better fit for Montreal than teammate Kadri. Nevertheless, the Flames would prefer to keep Coleman.
Dreger recently even admitted that it is “unlikely” that the veteran winger would be dealt in the coming weeks. The Flames would essentially have to be blown away to let go of Coleman. Montreal does not have much money to work with, so team officials would have to get creative in making another major move. They do, however, have one of the top prospect pools in the NHL.
Canadiens Show Interest in Star Forward on the Trade Block