Flames’ Nazem Kadri plays 1,000th NHL game

Kadri is now the 411th player in league history to hit the 1,000-game mark. Before puck drop, the Flames honored the 35-year-old winger with a pregame ceremony and a video tribute, showing highlights from Kadri’s 17-year NHL career.

The Flames donated a check for $50,000 to the Nazem Kadri Foundation, then presented the forward with the NHL’s silver stick, given to players who reach the 1,000-game mark.

During the first intermission, Kadri spoke with Sportsnet’s Brendan Parker about being honored before the game.

“It was very emotional,” Kadri said. “It was incredible to have my family out there with me.”

Midway through the second period, Kadri scored his fourth goal of the season, making him the 62nd player in NHL history to score a goal in his 1,000th game, as well as the second Flames player to achieve the feat. Martin Gelinas was the first in December 2003.

The Flames went on to defeat the Blue Jackets 5-1.

This season, Kadri has recorded four goals and seven assists for 11 points in 15 games. Now in his fourth campaign with the Flames, the London, Ont., native has 92 goals and 117 assists for 209 points in 261 regular-season games.

Kadri signed with Calgary ahead of the 2022-23 season, inking a seven-year, $49-million contract with an annual average value (AAV) of $7 million through the 2028-29 season.

In 2024-25, Kadri finished the season with a career-high 35 goals, along with 32 assists for 67 points. In 2021-22, he hit career highs in assists and points with 59 and 87, respectively.

Kadri has 311 goals and 410 assists for 721 points with the Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs and Colorado Avalanche since joining the league in 2010. He’s recorded three 30-goal seasons in his career, along with seven 50-point campaigns.

Kadri has also scored 19 goals and 25 assists for 44 points in 52 career NHL playoff games. He helped the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup in 2022, where he scored seven goals and eight assists for 15 points.

Taken by the Leafs with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Kadri spent four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League with the Kitchener Rangers and London Knights, finishing with 92 goals and 166 assists for 258 points in 242 regular-season games. He won an OHL Championship in 2008.