Nazem Kadri spent the opening day of Calgary Flames training camp advising reporters not to press him about his future with the team.
The centre is one of several veteran Flames who have been quizzed by media this week about their intentions to play for the rebuilding club this season.
“I feel like it’s super early to be asking these kinds of questions, so I’m gonna ask you guys to pump the brakes a little bit,” he remarked with a half-smile on Thursday. “Let us go play, and we’re going to try to rally around each other and surprise some people.”
Kadri, 33, agreed to a seven-year, $49 million contract with the Flames in the summer of 2022, after the team traded Matthew Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers for Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar. At the time, it appeared that the Flames would have a chance to win the Stanley Cup.
Instead, they’ve missed the playoffs in each of the last two seasons, while trading veterans like Chris Tanev, Jacob Markstrom, Elias Lindholm, and Noah Hanifin for prospects and draft picks.
Despite the shift in strategy under general manager Craig Conroy, Kadri maintained he is still dedicated to the Flames.
“I love the city,” he said. “I love the organization.”
Kadri’s words echo those of captain Mikael Backlund, Stanley Cup winner Blake Coleman, and blueliner Weegar. All three have time remaining on their contracts, but they continue to play at a high level and may be appealing to Stanley Cup contenders. All three have stated publicly that they intend to see the process through in southern Alberta.
“I don’t want to go anywhere,” Weegar stated this week. “I know a lot of people talk about leaving, but I want to rebuild the reputation of this city and make it a championship city again. They’ve taken me in, and all I want to do is repay them.”
Coleman talked about the benefits of staying put.
“We love it here,” Coleman remarked on Thursday.
“This is how I was raised…”When things go rough, it shows you what you’re made of.”
Coleman also emphasized the city itself, besides hockey.
“It’s a great place to live,” he remarked. “Great place to raise a family. I’ve never had a bad thing to say about the city or how the organization has treated me and my family. Nothing would make me happier than winning in Calgary.
Huberdeau brought up his eight-year contract and his desire to see it through with the team. Despite scoring 115 points in his final season with the Panthers, he has struggled with the Flames, registeringA total of 107 points in two seasons with Calgary. “I didn’t sign a long-term deal to not be here,” he remarked Thursday. “I want to be here. “I want to be a Calgary Flame.”
Those veterans understand that this bunch will be younger, so their leadership will be even more important if Calgary is to have a good season.
Last season, Lindholm was the club’s top center. This season, Backlund, Kadri, and 24-year-old Martin Pospisil will most likely form a revolving cast. Tanev was the team’s top shutdown defenseman in 2023-24. This season, his second paired partner will most likely be Kevin Bahl, who is 24. Markstrom has been replaced in the crease by Dustin Wolf, a rookie, and Dan Vladar, a 27-year-old.Those veterans understand that their off-ice impact on the younger players is just as essential as what occurs on the ice.”Lead by example,” said Rasmus Andersson, the Flames’ most experienced defenceman.
“I’m a really loud man in the room. Maintain a sense of humor while remaining serious when appropriate.You want to make [the rookies] feel as welcome as possible in the group. Chirp them a little to keep them on their toes. When you get chirped the most, you are the most part of the squad.
Kadri stated that the objective is for veterans to maintain a good quality from the start of camp.
“I want to be able to look.””Look in the mirror and do something great every day,” he remarked. “I’m also learning, and I want to become a better person and athlete.
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