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Toronto Maple Leafs Reportedly Pursuing $49 Million Center on the Trade Market

Originally posted on House of Hockey | By Tom Banks | Last updated Jun 29, 2025 12:02 PM ET

Nazem Kadri is reportedly drawing interest on the trade market, and unsurprisingly, the Toronto Maple Leafs are one of the teams in hot pursuit.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have brought back John Tavares, but beyond that, they're set to lose plenty of talent in free agency, and with very few names out there to replace that talent, they've got cap space to spend and nowhere to spend it.

That is, until this recent report however, as Nick Kypreos has reported that the team are one of many around the league looking into acquiring a very familiar face to Maple Leafs fans.

'Teams have been inquiring about Flames' Nazem Kadri; Toronto would be one of them.'

According to Kypreos, the Maple Leafs are interested in acquiring veteran centre Nazem Kadri, whom they traded to Colorado many years back, but with his performances continuing to improve for Calgary, he makes sense as a target for this team.

While he continues to age, Kadri has become a true leader for the Flames, and with the Maple Leafs needing that type of player for a Stanley Cup Playoffs run, the fit is absolutely perfect, with a $7 million cap hit not the impossible addition that it once was for Toronto.

Ultimately, Kadri has a no-movement clause and he has shown a willingness and a desire to remain in Calgary throughout the duration of his contract, but given that this team likely won't be a post-season contender again in 2025/26, it would make sense that if a true contender like Toronto came calling, he'd be willing to waive that clause, so keep a close eye on this one in the coming weeks and months.

This article first appeared on House of Hockey and was syndicated with permission.

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