Insider Proposes Stunning Link of Nazem Kadri to Cup Contender By Deadline

This one kind of takes us by surprise, but it does make sense on many levels: While the Calgary Flames maintain a very tenuous hold on the last playoff spot in the Western Conference, their ongoing three-game losing streak has Daily Faceoff's Jeff Marek thinking: What if that becomes a four-game skid? Will the Flames re-think their deadline stance and make a stunning trade of Nazem Kadri... to the Dallas Stars?

If the Calgary Flames lose to the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday, would that be enough for Craig Conroy to let Nazem Kadri wiggle loose for the Trade Deadline? Maybe drop him off in Dallas on Thursday?

While Calgary has dropped three straight decisions, it should be noted that those games were against the Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning.. Not exactly the weak sisters of the league. However, another loss, this time to the Flyers...? The Flames happen to be in Dallas to face the Stars on Thursday. Do they leave Kadri there, wonders Marek?

To be clear, the Flames are tied with the Vancouver Canucks at 65 points for the second Wild Card spot. But the St. Louis Blues lurk only one point back, and Utah is only two points behind.

Kadri's name was bandied about as a trade possibility much earlier in the season, before Calgary made it clear they could contend for a playoff spot. His grit and feistiness, combined with solid offensive production, would make for an ideal playoff add for any Cup contender, but especially for Dallas, who could use another impact forward with some playoff success. Kadri was a key member of the 2022 Stanley Cup-winning Colorado Avalanche, with 15 points in 16 games and a +7 rating.

The Stars have $4.59 million in cap space available, but they can pick up another $8.45M in space if they place Miro Heiskanen on LTIR, as he's expected to be out well into the first round of the postseason.

It could be pie-in-the-sky thinking for Dallas (and Marek), but with four more seasons left on the 34-year-old Kadri's contract, does he really fit the timeline for the still-growing Flames? Does Calgary feel they're ready to be a serious contender right now?