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Elliotte Friedman Reveals Key Update on Nazem Kadri's Potential Return to Maple Leafs

Originally posted on Blade of Steel | By Tom Banks | Last updated Jul 10, 2025 4:11 PM ET

Nazem Kadri has been connected to a return to Toronto this off-season, but now Elliotte Friedman has shut down any reports that he wants to leave Calgary.

The Calgary Flames are looking to get younger this off-season while acquiring top level talent, and to do that, a team needs to pick in the lottery, so unsurprisingly, plenty of veterans on this team have been linked to big trades this summer.

Rasmus Andersson is in the final year of his contract and is likely to be moved, and now, rumours have begun circulating that veteran centre Nazem Kadri may want out too, with Maple Leafs fans unsurprisingly linking him with a return to his hometown team.

However, he does come with a no-trade clause, which many believe he'd be willing to waive, but according to top NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman, there's no desire from either Kadri or the Flames to move him at this point in time.

In three years with the Flames, Kadri has played in 82 games in each, tallying point totals of 56, 75 and 67 during that span, and given his two-way play, it's safe to say that the front office is thrilled with his individual performances thus far.

That type of two-way game would fit perfectly with what the Maple Leafs need at the moment, and while it's clear that Kadri was frustrated with how his departure from Toronto went the first time, there's no overwhelming desire for him to return home.

There's always a chance that things change as Friedman mentioned, but with the Flames just one point out of a post-season spot in 2024/25, the organization appears content with the way things are going, so don't expect anything to happen with Kadri anytime soon.

This article first appeared on Blade of Steel and was syndicated with permission.

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