Nazem Kadri

Nazem Kadri
Kadri in June 2012
Born (1990-10-06) October 6, 1990 (age 36)
London, Ontario
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb)
Position Centre
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams		 Calgary Flames
Toronto Maple Leafs
Colorado Avalanche
National team  Canada
NHL draft 7th overall, 2009
Toronto Maple Leafs
Playing career 2010–present

Nazem Kadri (Arabic: ناظم كادري; born October 6, 1990) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre. He currently plays for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League (NHL) and serves as an alternate captain. He has also played for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Colorado Avalanche.

Kadri is a one-time Stanley Cup champion, winning with the Avalanche in 2022. He is also a two-time All-Star, being named one in 2022 and 2023.

Career

Before playing in the NHL, Kadri played parts of two seasons with the Kitchener Rangers and parts of two seasons with the London Knights of Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He had a successful time with both his teams. He helped the Rangers during the 2007–08 OHL playoffs. They defeated the Plymouth Whalers, Sarnia Sting, and Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. They defeated the Belleville Bulls in the finals to win the OHL championship. They lost to the Spokane Chiefs 4–1 in the Memorial Cup Finals. With the Knights, he was chosen to play in the OHL All-Star Classic.

He was drafted 7th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2009 NHL entry draft. On July 6, 2009, he signed a three-year, entry-level contract to join the Maple Leafs. On February 8, 2010, the Leafs called Kadri up and he made his NHL debut in a 3–2 loss against the San Jose Sharks. On November 16, he recorded his first NHL point, assisting a Kris Versteeg goal in a 5–4 win against the Nashville Predators. On March 19, 2011, Kadri scored his first career NHL goal against Tim Thomas in a 5–2 win against the Boston Bruins. On February 28, 2013, he recorded his first career NHL hat-trick in a 5–4 win against the New York Islanders. On September 11, 2013, Kadri signed a two-year, $5.8 million contract to stay with the Leafs. On July 5, 2015, Kadri signed a one-year, $4.1 million contract to stay with the Leafs. On April 13, 2016, Kadri signed a six-year, $27 million contract to stay with the Leafs.

On July 1, 2019, the Maple Leafs traded Kadri along with Calle Rosén and a 2020 third-round pick to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Tyson Barrie, Alexander Kerfoot and a 2020 sixth-round pick. He had a very successful 2021–22 season, scoring 28 goals and recording 59 assists which set a new career-best in both assists and points for him. When the Avalanche faced the St. Louis Blues in Game 3 of the playoffs, Kadri was involved in an incident where he collided with Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington which caused Binnington to leave the game with a lower-body injury. Blues coach Craig Berube blamed Kadri and pointed to Kadri's multiple other suspensions over his NHL career, stating "Look at Kadri's reputation. That's all I've got to say." Kadri stated that he did not do it on purpose and that it was a mistake. the Avalanche went on to eliminate the Blues and then the Edmonton Oilers before defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning four games to two in the Final to win the Stanley Cup.

On August 18, 2022, Kadri signed a seven-year, $49 million contract to join the Calgary Flames. On November 5, 2025, Kadri played his 1,000th NHL game.

Personal life

Kadri is a Muslim, becoming both the first Muslim drafted by the Maple Leafs and the highest-drafted Muslim in NHL history until 2012 when Nail Yakupov was drafted 1st overall.

References

  1. ↑ "Kitchener finally clinches OHL title". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Broken trophy still beautiful for Memorial Cup champion Spokane Chiefs". Canadian Press. Archived from the original on May 28, 2008. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Nazem Kadri (C) – London Knights". Ontario Hockey League. Archived from the original on October 17, 2007. Retrieved January 17, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. ↑ "Leafs ink first-rounder Kadri to entry-level deal". The Sports Network. Archived from the original on July 12, 2009. Retrieved January 17, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  5. ↑ "Leafs call up Nazem Kadri to face Sharks tonight". Toronto Star. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Nashville Predators vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Box Score: November 16, 2010". Hockey-Reference. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Kadri gets first NHL goal, lesser lights shine as Leafs beat Boston 5-2". The Hockey News. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Kadri nets hat-trick in win over Islanders". The Sports Network. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Maple Leafs sign Kadri to two-year, $5.8M deal". Sportsnet. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Nazem Kadri signs 1-year extension with Maple Leafs". ESPN. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Nazem Kadri signs six-year deal with Maple Leafs". ESPN. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Kadri traded to Avalanche by Maple Leafs for Barrie". National Hockey League. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Kadri reflects on past playoff infractions: 'I made a mistake'". Sportsnet. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Nasty on and off the ice, Blues-Avalanche series picking up steam". Sportsnet. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Avalanche edge Lightning in Game 6, win Cup for first time since 2001". National Hockey League. Archived from the original on June 27, 2022. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Flames sign Kadri to 7-year, $49M US deal, trade Monahan to Canadiens". CBC Sports. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Flames celebrate Kadri's 1,000th NHL game". National Hockey League. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  18. ↑ "Maple Leafs get role model". Toronto Star. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Yakupov tries to prove he's not a stereotypical Russian prospect". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved January 17, 2026.

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