Photo: THN
According to Colorado Hockey Now’s Adrian Dater, unrestricted free agent center Nazem Kadri, who is coming off of a Stanley Cup victory with the Colorado Avalanche last season, will sign with the New York Islanders. Terms of the contract have yet to be released.
The 32-year-old set career-highs in assists (59) and points (87) in 71 regular-season games, where he won 49.7% of the faceoffs he took. Kadri also earned seven goals and 15 points in 16 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
The move comes after the Islanders, who missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs by 16 points last season and replaced head coach Barry Trotz with assistant Lane Lambert, have had a quiet start to the NHL offseason. The team averaged 2.79 goals-per-game (tied with the Buffalo Sabres for 22nd in the league) and 12th with a 22.1% power-play efficiency.
Kadri averaged 3:53 on the power play (third among Avalanche forwards) and 28 seconds on the penalty kill (10th) last season.
He has earned 219 goals and 512 points in 739 career regular-season games with the Avalanche and Toronto Maple Leafs but never topped 61 points in a single season and eclipsed 50 just three times prior to 2021-22. Kadri scored 32 goals in back-to-back seasons with the Maple Leafs from 2016-18, the only times he hit 21 goals in a campaign before this past season.
In 52 career postseason outings, Kadri has 19 goals and 44 points.
The Islanders have $11,185,037 in cap space with defensemen Noah Dobson and Alexander Romanov in addition to left-wing Kieffer Bellows currently in need of contracts as restricted free agents.
Barrie Colts Director Of Player Personnel: Nazem Kadri To Become New York Islander https://t.co/wz5IWV865d
— Adrian Dater (@adater) July 31, 2022
By Harrison Brown
Seems like a desperate signing if you ask me. They already have 4 centers on the roster, there has been talk about moving one of them to the wing though. Also, don’t see him putting up 50 points with that forward core. I kind of hope they overpay him and get stuck with a terrible contract at the age of 32. This past year was a one time thing and there’s no way he puts up 80+ points again especially with that forward group.
Yup. Leave it to Lou to overpay an aging player who had one good year. Also now has zero leverage for any trade with this news so expect to see another Toews-like trade of losing one of their best, young players to make room for Kadri.
Similar to GMBM.
Hater
Barzal is a center in name only.
Need scoring wings! Play making center is not a need. Moving parts without fixing problem at a cost.
Don’t hate the player ,this ship sailed the day they showed Trotz the door! This Team had a window but windows are small and it is closing fast!
Sincerely
Garth
Some coaches can make a big difference and Trotz is one of them. Just look at Wash, they could ahve made a 2nd run but would not pay Trotz and ended up with someone who should never have been a HC.
Yeah, but Lou fired Trotz.
Isles missed out big time on Tkachuk. Now if they can sign Kadri AND Tarasenko, that would be big! Probably not going to happen though
Taresenko still has a contract
Yes, I know…was just stating what I think would be a season changing event.
Barzal is awful on face offs. Would be a step up if you had Kadri centring Barzal & Lee.
Barzal is all over the place and is terrible defensively. Putting him on the wing would be wise.
Washington capitals such signed nazem kardi what now by Danny Hanlon?