Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Avalanche Make Nazem Kadri Decision Before Flames Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Apr 14, 2026 12:30 PM ET

The Colorado Avalanche head into their late-season matchup against the Calgary Flames with the best record in the NHL and having already earned the Presidents' Trophy for the 2025-26 season.

Coincidentally, the Avalanche clinched the trophy with a win over the Calgary Flames on Thursday, the same team they'll meet on Tuesday in both franchises' regular-season finale.

With the postseason starting over the weekend, and Colorado entering the playoffs as the best team in the field, it's fair to assume they will focus on staying healthy rather than pushing for one more meaningless win in the regular season.

That approach will have an emotional twist on Tuesday, however, as the Flames host a game in which they could be facing one of the faces of the franchise for the past few years.

Colorado Avalanche center Nazem Kadri (91) celebrates a goal against the Calgary Flames.Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

That'd be Avalanche forward Nazem Kadri, whom the Flames traded to Colorado at this season's trade deadline in March, thus returning him to the team with which he won his lone Stanley Cup.

However, according to Sportsnet’s Eric Francis, Kadri won't play on Tuesday even after traveling with the team to Calgary.

“Nazem Kadri is on the trip with the Avalanche, but will not play tomorrow in Calgary due to injury,” Francis reported.

Nazem Kadri is on the trip with the Avalanche, but will not play tomorrow in Calgary due to injury.
— Eric Francis (@EricFrancis) April 13, 2026

Kadri has been listed as day-to-day for a few days with a finger injury sustained against the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday, and he hasn't played in any Avalanche game afterward.

Since the trade from Calgary, Kadri has scored four goals and provided five assists in the Avalanche's sweater in 15 games. Over the full season, appearing in 77 total games, Kadri has put up 16 goals and 34 assists for 50 points.

The decision means Kadri will miss what would have been his return to Calgary, now having to wait the full summer and into the 2026-27 season to appear in a game against his former team.

Flames and Avalanche are set to face each other at 9 p.m. on Tuesday.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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