Analyzing Nazem Kadri trade proposals from Armchair GM

Left-handed defenceman Derek Forbort seems to be a name that is always floating around there. He is 33 years old and has recently missed a significant amount of time due to injuries. Forbort was actually acquired by the Flames from the Los Angeles Kings before the 2020 trade deadline. He played just seven games for the Flames before the Flames traded him to the Winnipeg Jets.

I don’t see a need for the Flames to add another veteran defenceman when they have youth waiting in the wings, as well as extra depth.

Verdict: No, unless a situation arises where the Flames absolutely have to add another depth defenceman.

Crazy for Kadri

There is simply no way this ever happens. I’ve written about the Flames taking on cap dumps , but I don’t see it happening in exchange for Nazem Kadri. Morgan Rielly and the San Jose Sharks’ sixth-round pick. Really? Craig Conroy would probably block Brad Treliving’s email and phone number. Who can blame him?

Verdict: No. Toronto doesn’t have any assets the Flames want for any Kadri trade, really.

The rumours surrounding a Kadri trade have been swirling around for the last two seasons. They’ve seemed to gain a bit of momentum  this summer. The Montreal Canadiens have more attractive assets to me than Toronto, though. Kirby Dach is exactly the type of player Conroy has been after. He is a 24-year-old right-shot centre. Dach has dealt with a number of injuries early on in his career, and it does make acquiring him look like a big risk.

Shedding a 35-year-old player for two young forwards and a second-round draft pick in a very good draft class might be worth that risk. Your goal is to inject younger, talented, and faster players into the lineup. Here is your chance. Joshua Roy is a 21-year-old right winger with 11 points in 35 NHL games. Is he more or less of what the Flames already have?

Verdict: Yes, I think you do it. If Kadri is willing to move his no-movement clause for you, you jump at it. It makes a lot of sense and will help open up that logjam.

Any trade involving Daniil Miromanov immediately catches my attention. The defenceman acquired in the Noah Hanifin trade has not had much luck in Calgary and has been a regular scratch. They were looking to ship him off at the last trade deadline, but it never came to fruition. It comes back to clearing more space for younger and more talented players who have earned a shot at the NHL.

Mike Matheson is in his final year of his contract. If taking that on got the trade done, you do it. Part of this rebuilding thing is taking on salary dumps or players that don’t 100% address the needs of your organization. I’d be singing a different tune if he were the main piece of the trade.

Verdict: Again, yes.

We’ve made it another week through the offseason without Rasmus Andersson being traded or Connor Zary signing an extension. Maybe things will change before the next edition of Armchair GM goes live.