NHL Rumours: Montreal Canadiens Looking to Add Veteran Centre Before Deadline – LWOS Hockey

Welcome back to another edition of NHL Rumours from the crew at Last Word on Hockey. The rumours continue to swirl here on deadline day, and the Montreal Canadiens are finding themselves in the middle of many trade negotiations. With them looking to move one of their netminders, as well as now circling back on adding another centre to the mix. This edition of NHL Rumours focuses on the latter as the Canadiens have circled back on Calgary Flames centre, Nazem Kadri.

All NHL Rumours come from their original source and are subject to change.

NHL Rumours: Canadiens Pick Up Trade Talks with Calgary Flames Centre

Rumour: According to David Pagnotta, the Montreal Canadiens have circled back with the Flames on Nazem Kadri. 

As just mentioned on the @DailyFaceoff Panel with the boys, told the Canadiens have circled back with the Flames recently on Nazem Kadri. Talks continue. Some chatter Patrik Laine could be in play here if this gets to the finish line.

— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) March 6, 2026

Analysis: Pagnotta mentions that the chatter surrounding this deal also includes moving Patrik Laine. This move would be required to get the cap hit off the books in order for the Canadiens to fit Kadri on their roster. Pagnotta also mentions that the Flames are very interested in Canadiens defenceman Arber Xhekaj, so he could potentially be part of the package the Habs send to acquire Kadri.

It’s no secret that the Canadiens have been interested in bolstering their centre depth for a long time. They did make one move earlier in the season to address this, acquiring centre Phillip Danault from the Los Angeles Kings. They’ve also been rumoured to be interested in Robert Thomas; however, this move is unlikely, as the Canadiens likely won’t want to meet the asking price. They were also linked to Ryan O’Reilly, but it seems he will be staying in Nashville as well. Hence the return back to Kadri.

What Kadri Would Bring to the Canadiens

Kadri is nearing the end of his career, though he’s still playing excellent hockey. This season, the 35-year-old has scored 12 goals and 41 points in 61 games for the Flames. He’s still under contract for another three seasons with a cap hit of $7 million per season. Certainly not a number that’s going to be a detriment to the Canadiens if they do manage to acquire the veteran centre.

What Kadri also brings is an edge to his game. Something that teams salivate over. Especially come playoff time, he’s the type of player that every team wants on their roster. This was proven when he helped the Colorado Avalanche secure a Stanley Cup during the 2021-22 season. Kadri was one of the most important players on that roster, scoring seven goals and 15 points in 16 games.

Acquiring Kadri and having him under contract for the next three seasons will also allow promising prospect Michael Hage to develop. Hage figures to slot in as the second-line centre behind Nick Suzuki in the future. So Kadri would provide a nice stopgap, while also making the Canadiens a more competitive team moving forward.

Cost to Acquire Kadri

While Pagnotta doesn’t mention a specific return, he does mention the Flames are very interested in Arber Xhekaj. Go figure. Xhekaj is another in-your-face type of player that teams love, including the Canadiens. So it’s unclear if the Habs would entertain him being a part of the package. However, you have to trade something to get something. You’re not getting players like Kadri for peanuts. And trading Xhekaj for a player of Kadri’s stature would certainly be a win, depending on the rest of the return.

Main Photo: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images