New Nazem Kadri to Toronto Trade Linked By Another Hockey Insider

Marek, who was granted a new show called The Sheet expressed that the Maple Leafs and the Calgary Flames may continue dialogue to potentially making a trade later this season.

He feels that the Maple Leafs need more toughness down the middle as the team has been beleaguered by injuries and a reduction in secondary scoring which has plagued them for a couple of years.

This story originally broke when retired NHL executive Doug MacLean spoke on The Real Kyper and Bourne show on Sportsnet last week stating that the Flames in the Maple Leafs have spoken about a potential trade to bring Kadri back to the Maple Leafs. MacLean also expressed that adding Kadri to the Leafs roster would change the dynamic of the Eastern Conference race.

Even with the Maple Leafs having a strong season and showing a different approach to the game with new head coach Craig Berube, general manager Brad Treliving will not sit still and accept what he has as the team still has work to be done.

Secondary scoring has been a main issue for the Maple Leafs especially when it comes to playoff time as the team relies on their stars for the offence which tends to dry up as the ice shrinks in the playoffs.

Kadri would bring balance to the team, add toughness and grit and help put the puck in the net all attributes to why the Maple Leafs drafted him many years ago.

The Maple Leafs would likely need some cap relief from either the flames or a third party to make a deal work as the Maple Leafs currently only have $2.3 million in cap space and the Flames hold a $7,000,000 cap hit for Kadri which will run till 2028.

As the talks continue to intensify and more insiders continue to make these statements, there's a strong possibility that a deal may be in the works and that Kadri may head back to hockey mad Toronto.