Coming into the 2025-26 season, one of the needs on everyone’s checklist for the New Jersey Devils was to acquire a third-line center. And with Cody Glass recently going down with injury, it gives us a glimpse of just how thin the center depth could be for the Devils. Recently, Nazem Kadri’s name has been popping up in NHL trade rumors. Could he be a fit in New Jersey?
First, and foremost, a Kadri trade is not immanent. On Sportsnet’s Saturday Night Headlines, Elliotte Friedman explained with absolute certainty that it’s important to both Kadri and the Calgary Flames that he play his 1,000 NHL game with his current franchise. Kadri’s played 994 thus far.
However, Friedman did explain that it’s just been uncovered that Kadri’s trade status has changed.
“The other thing too is it came out this week that his trade status has changed,” Friedman explained. “He’s no longer got a full no-trade clause. He’s got a 13-team no trade list. And I do think one thing that’s happening is all these teams are trying to find out, ‘Am I on that list? Because if I am, and I want him, what are we going to have to do to sell him on the potential of coming to us’ if Calgary decides to go down that road.”
Kadri has three years remaining on his contract with a $7 million cap hit.
On the latest episode of Devils Rink Report with James Nichols, David Pagnotta fielded the question about his fit with the Devils.
“Stylistically, player wise, what he brings to the table, absolutely,” Pagnotta claimed. “I would try to make that happen.”
Everyone is on the Devils’ wagon after their hot start to the season. However, perhaps their one drawback that many point to is their size, and lack of a physical edge. Well, Kadri brings all of those elements, and can pot a team 30 goals in the process. Just last season, Kadri netted 35, and totaled 67 points.
So, is it likely to happen?
“I just don’t think they pay the price. Like, that’s a premium, and I don’t think they need to,” Pagnotta continued. “Quite frankly, I would rather go after either [Blake] Coleman or something along those lines for them. I know that the [New York] Islanders will be in the thick of it, and they’re not going to trade J.G. Pageau to a divisional rival. But that’s another potential, in terms of type of player, that I would be looking at. I like their top six. If I’m adding, it’s that energy type of physical player. But at the same time, if you can really stabilize your third unit, more so, really your bottom six. Then those are the kind of pieces that I would be looking at.”
The Devils do have assets to trade, although the wonder is if said assets are to reel in the third Hughes brother.
Regardless, Kadri would certainly look good behind Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier in New Jersey. And if they needed him to, he could play up in the lineup.
It does feel like a season where the Devils could push all their chips to the table and make a big add to try and go on a Stanley Cup run. The Devils and Flames do have trade history, most recently involving Jacob Markstrom. It’s just a matter if Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald would want to pay the premium.
“With respect to Kadri, look, every cup contender would love to get their hands on this guy,” Pagnotta concluded.
“But, it’s going to cost a lot for any team to pry him out of Calgary, even if the Flames are in another position where they’ll entertain calls. They’ve done it before. It was more in the off season, where they at least entertained calls, but they’d have to completely be blown away by an offer. And I think the same applies now.
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