The Colorado Avalanche made some changes last season at the trade deadline that have helped them be where they are today: In prime position, in a playoff spot, and a chance to earn the number one seed for the 2025-26 postseason. Unlike last season, they brought a player back into the fold for their run.
Nazem Kadri joined the Avalanche in 2019 and played for them for three seasons before exiting in free agency for the Calgary Flames. On January 24, 2025, Colorado traded Mikko Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes, in a three-team trade including the Chicago Blackhawks. Taylor Hall went from Chicago to Carolina, while Jack Drury and Martin Necas went to the Avalanche.
Following that trade, Kadri took to X to voice his opinion on the team trading away Rantanen.
The Colorado Avalanche got the last laugh, alongside Nazem Kadri regarding his previous comment
”Rule number one: You always keep the dawgs … #96” Those were his words, clearly pointing towards the Rantanen trade with the hashtag plus Rantanen’s jersey number.
It started out well, with Rantanen clearly struggling in Carolina to find a fit, while Necas and Drury had almost immediate impacts with the Avalanche. To this day, both of those players have cozied in nicely to their role, with Necas regularly on the top line with Nathan MacKinnon and Jack Drury providing some much-needed depth.
On Monday night, the Avalanche hosted the Flames, for the first time since Kadri returned to Colorado. He put up two goals on five shots and during 21 total shifts. Not only that—both of Kadri’s goals came on the power play. The team’s power play has ramped up tremendously since the Olympic break, and Kadri has a lot to do with it. He has three total power play goals for the Avalanche this season.
It’s just hilarious to me how some things come full circle. Kadri left because both sides were unable to come to a contract agreement, and five years later, he ends up back where he won a Stanley Cup. The only thing that can help write this story even better is if the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup this season. Kadri could be the team’s good luck charm. Hopefully the power play success continues through the rest of the regular season into the postseason.
Kadri has three more years on his contract at $7 million per year. Another Stanley Cup or two would be the perfect way to send him off into the sunset.