New team enters the mix for Nazem Kadri - It's definitely NOT who you think

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Ryan
July 5, 2022 (10:39 PM)

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Nazem Kadri was drafted 7th overall back in 2009 by the Toronto Maple Leafs. After playing for the Maple Leafs for 10 seasons, he was traded from the Maple Leafs to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Tyson Barrie, Alexander Kerfoot and round 6 pick in the 2020 draft (Joe Miller).

Three seasons later, Kadri just had his best point season of his career, scoring 28 goals, 87 points in 71 games and adding an additional 7 goals 15 points in 16 playoff games.

Kadri is currently a UFA and coming off a very team friendly contract that was 6 years with an AAV of $4,500,000. This 31-year old veteran is looking to get a significant raise this offseason after putting up career highs in points, and unfortunately he is probably pricing himself out of Colorado.

According to NHL Insider Nick Kypreos multiple teams could be wanting to offer Kadri as high as $10 million per season in free agency.

He is the top free agent on the market and is going to be generating a ton of interest. But Nick Kypreos also just threw another team that you mix that you definitely did not think would be considering Kadri.

"There's going to be a team that comes out of there that we're not seeing right now that is going to be in on Kadri. You're going to be shocked. Arizona. I'm telling you, I'm hearing Arizona wants a run at Kadri because they are desperate to show a fanbase that just because we're going into this building doesn't mean we're not serious".

While I completely understand the reasoning behind it, and if I were the Coyotes I'd want to do the same thing, but there is no way a player like Kadri is: 1. Going to a rebuilding franchise who hasn't shown any form of success in years or 2. Going to play in a building that holds 4700 people.

I commend the Coyotes for throwing their hat in the ring, but it's definitely not going to happen.