Nazem Kadri's NHL career evolution: From Toronto Maple Leafs venture to Calgary Flames captain and Stanley Cup winner
Nazem Kadri is one of those contemporary
NHL
players who went through his own set of ups and downs—from his early years as a polarizing forward with the Toronto Maple Leafs to his Stanley Cup-winning triumph with the Colorado Avalanche.
Today he is an experienced face in the Calgary Flames. His existence has been marked by pressure moments, scandal, and redemption.
From London rinks to the NHL limelight: Nazem Kadri's journey
Born in 1990 in London, Ontario, Nazem Kadri left his mark early with a sparkling career for the London Knights and Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League. He immediately impressed NHL scouts with his play and was taken seventh overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2009.
Nazem Kadri's initial highs, lows, and headlines
Nazem Kadri's decade with the Toronto Maple Leafs was anything but quiet.
He became the emotional heartbeat of the team, delivering consecutive 30-goal seasons and frequently adding stimulation with his tough brand of hockey. But under playoff bright lights, surprise suspensions and discipline were worthy of criticism.
The Controversial Career of Nazem Kadri
As much as the Maple Leafs enjoyed his zest, they did go in another direction and sent him to the Colorado Avalanche in 2019 after trade negotiations had earlier fallen through—one of which involved a potential trade to Calgary—when he possessed a no-trade clause.
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In the Colorado Avalanche, Nazem Kadri thrived. Woven into a fabric of other top performers in Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, he developed his two-way game and tallied career bests, including 87 points in the 2021–22 season. His postseason performances were nothing short of spectacular, battling through sickness to help Colorado win its first Stanley Cup in over two decades. Holding the Stanley Cup aloft was an iconic moment, proving himself to be more thana talented agitator.
Also read:
NHL Trade Rumors: Five potential destinations for Nazem Kadri if the Flames deal him
From his name, Kadri signed a seven-year, $49 million contract with the Calgary Flames. He also brought production and leadership, having posted 56- and 75-point seasons before a 2024–25 season in which he posted 35 goals and 67 points. Kadri, now 35 years old, is still a difference-maker—still feisty battling for the puck, still a goal-scorer in clutch situations, and still playing with the desperation that made him hard to overlook at first.
Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
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