Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

Av’s Fans Send Nazem Kadri a Powerful Message

Originally posted on NHL Trade Talk | By Old Prof | Last updated Mar 9, 2026 7:46 PM ET

Every now and then, you see a hockey crowd nail a moment perfectly, like they all knew exactly what to do. It happened Sunday night in Denver when Nazem Kadri stepped back onto the ice as an Avalanche player again. Play paused, they rolled the tribute video on the big screen, highlighting his time there, and right away, the entire building rose to its feet.

Just pure respect pouring out—no hesitation, no half-measures. Really special stuff. Not a polite clap either. A real standing ovation.

Kadri Clearly Felt the Welcome

Kadri gave a little salute back to the crowd. The kind players do when they’re trying to act like it’s no big deal. But you could tell it meant something to him. And honestly, it should have.

Kadri was a huge part of the Avalanche team that won the Stanley Cup in 2022. Anyone who watched that playoff run remembers it pretty clearly. He wasn’t just along for the ride. He played a big role in pushing that team over the top.

Kadri brought a little bit of everything. Skill. Grit. A willingness to annoy the other team. Some nights, he looked like the guy stirring the pot. Other nights, he was scoring big goals. Usually, he was doing both.

Kadri Could Have Stayed in Colorado, But Money Was the Issue

When he left Colorado that summer and signed with the Calgary Flames, it wasn’t really because the Avalanche wanted him gone. It was simpler than that. They just didn’t have the money.

That’s the salary cap world the NHL lives in. A team wins, players earn raises, and suddenly the numbers don’t work anymore. Good players move on even when no one really wants it to happen.

After the trade, Kadri ended up in Calgary, and he’s been solid there. Last season, he even hit a career-high 35 goals, which is pretty impressive stuff. Not too shabby for a player a lot of folks used to write off as nothing more than a pesky agitator.

What Kadri Brought Was Missed in Colorado

But if you watched Colorado the last couple of seasons, you probably noticed something. The Avalanche just weren’t the same without Kadri’s edge and swagger. Teams look for that kind of player all the time and usually come up empty. So when he was suddenly back wearing Avalanche colours again, it felt a little strange — but also a little right.

It didn’t take long for Kadri to get involved—he set up Nathan MacKinnon for Colorado’s first goal. Pretty typical Kadri hockey. The fans remembered what Kadri meant to that Cup team. And Kadri clearly remembered the place that helped make his career what it is.

This article first appeared on NHL Trade Talk and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: