For months, the Montreal Canadiens and Calgary Flames have been the focal point of the NHL trade rumor mill, with veteran center Nazem Kadri supposedly packing his bags for the Bell Centre. But if you’ve been holding your breath for this blockbuster deal, it’s time to exhale. The Habs are shifting gears, and the dream of seeing Kadri in the tricolore is fading fast.
Why the sudden pivot? The reality of making a long-term commitment to a 35-year-old center just doesn’t align with Montreal’s current competitive window. According to TVA Sports’ Renaud Lavoie, while the Habs absolutely had initial interest in Kadri, the front office is highly concerned about his age. Kadri might give the Canadiens a jolt for a season or two, but his inevitable physical decline makes him a massive risk for a rebuilding core.
But there’s an even bigger reason the Canadiens are backing away, and it comes from inside their own locker room, completely altering their 2026 trade deadline strategy.
Why Nazem Kadri’s Age is Changing Montreal’s Trade Strategy
As an NHL analyst, I completely agree with Lavoie’s assessment. Kadri is a Stanley Cup champion and a warrior, but Father Time is undefeated. Acquiring a 35-year-old from the Calgary Flames means taking on a contract that will almost certainly age poorly as the player’s production drops off. Montreal is building something sustainable. Sacrificing prime assets for a short-term rental—or worse, a declining veteran on a heavy cap hit—is exactly the kind of move former management regimes would make. General Manager Kent Hughes is smarter than that.
Furthermore, it takes two to tango, and the Calgary Flames are in their own transitional phase. While they are motivated to move salary, they aren’t going to just give Kadri away for free. The acquisition cost combined with the age factor is simply a dealbreaker for Montreal.
Oliver Kapanen’s Emergence Shifts Focus to Robert Thomas
My take on the situation boils down to internal growth. Oliver Kapanen’s breakout performance on the Montreal Canadiens’ second line has fundamentally lessened the need to acquire a stop-gap veteran center. Kapanen has proven he can handle top-six minutes, distribute the puck, and play a reliable 200-foot game.
Because of Kapanen, if the Habs are going to swing big for a center, they want someone who fits perfectly within their young core. Enter Robert Thomas. The 26-year-old St. Louis Blues star is now heavily linked to the Habs. He matches the timeline of Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield perfectly. However, elite talent comes at an elite price. Are the Canadiens willing to pay the massive asking price for Thomas, which currently sits at a first-round pick and top prospect Michael Hage? That’s the real dilemma Hughes is facing today, not whether he should throw a lifeline to Kadri.
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