No, the Canadian has not found the 2nd center he has been looking for for several weeks.
The players in this position do not run the streets in the national league and it is difficult for Kent Hughes to find a partner to dance.
But there is a name that is currently circulating according to Nick Kyprus: that of Nazem Kadri.
In fact, according to Kypreos (Sportsnet), Kadri would be ready to raise his non-exchange clause to join two clubs in particular.
The Toronto Maple Leafs… and the Montreal Canadian.
And clearly, it would be an intriguing avenue for Kent Hughes and CH.
The two teams to which Kadri continues to be linked and for which he seems ready to raise his non-Mouvement clause are the Montreal Canadians and the Toronto Maple Leafs. – Nick KyPreos
With free agency winding down, the trade market is the best option for teams to add to their roster before training camp. With that in mind, @RealKyper provides his latest trade board. https://t.co/9maD65fud0
– Sportsnet (@sportsnet) July 15, 2025
I like this idea very much.
Not only because Kadri is a player who has proven himself offensively (he collected 87, 56, 75 and 67 points in his last four seasons) … but also because we talk about a guy who has passion.
We are talking about a player who gives himself to each presence on the skating rink and who never takes an evening off. And we know that in Montreal, Martin St-Louis loves players like him and that the Canadian loves guys who have a certain identity.
Kadri can score, he has gold hands, he has a beautiful vision … and placing it on the second trio, alongside a guy like Ivan Demidov, it could really make flames on the ice.
Nazem Kadri scores the nicest goal of the Flames season! Holy!#Flames | #LetsGoPens
📽️: Sportsnet | NHL pic.twitter.com/lx2ABxCv3V— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) March 3, 2024
That doesn’t mean the Canadian is interested.
But … with a view to where quality center players are rarely available at the moment, Kent Hughes must do his homework by calling the flames and to learn about the price to acquire Kadri.
The only problem?
Kadri will be 35 years old in October (the 6th) and he still has four seasons to his contract which earns him $ 7 million per season.
Is it too much for an age player?
At the same time, we know exactly what it would bring to Montreal in the short term …
Burst
– He’s so special.
Lane Hutson had 6-60—66 (82 GP) in 2024-25 and wrote his name next to a number of rookies on records lists. With his second full season fast approaching, what will the @CanadiensMTL defenseman have in store? #NHLStats #NHLYoungStarsWeek pic.twitter.com/peb9OOgltU
— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) July 15, 2025
– Sick!
The Raleigh family gave a good show yesterday. https://t.co/zt4abxos1n
— Passion MLB (@passion_mlb) July 15, 2025
– Ah, well yes.
A real philosopher this Scheffler scottie… 😂⛳
All details: https://t.co/pktmp2pb32 pic.twitter.com/OWwaXdf86v
— RDS (@RDSca) July 15, 2025