Many things have changed since Nazem Kadri departed the Avalanche in the summer of 2022. But after reacquiring him ahead of Friday’s trade deadline, and welcoming him back into the lineup on Sunday, one thing is for certain.
Kadri still demands the spotlight. He wants the big moment, he cherishes it, and he made that clear after Colorado’s 3-2 shootout victory on Sunday.
In regulation, Kadri recorded an assist on the opening goal from Nathan MacKinnon. He was playing with his fellow centerman because an injury to Gabe Landeskog meant Kadri would have to shift to the wing. The game eventually got to a shootout. Colorado was 1-for-2 on its first two chances, and Minnesota countered by going 1-for-3.
Kadri was sent over the boards, had the game on his stick, with the pop of the Ball Arena crowd behind him. Unfortunately for him and 18,000+ in attendance, Jesper Wallstedt made a big save.
Colorado still won, and Kadri spoke about that moment after the game.
“I wanted that one bad. I wanted that bad,” he said, with a beaming smile. “I wish I could have another shot at that, but unfortunately I can’t. I wanted to put the game away for the fans and the team, but he made a good save.”
10 Takeaways
1. In his most recent podcast, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman spoke about how the Avalanche’s core players wanted Kadri to return. When they caught wind of the idea, they pushed hard to make it happen. Sometimes, the contract lengths and the cap numbers don’t matter as much as understanding what your team needs right now, in this moment.
The element of what Kadri brings is something this team has sorely missed for four years. It took two shifts for him to battle in the crease with defenders towering over him. He still has the same drive he had in 2022, and his game itself hasn’t slowed down.
2. There was nothing that stuck out more on the first goal than the way Nathan MacKinnon pointed directly at Kadri after the setup, and smiled as he went in to embrace his teammate once again. They love this guy, and they know he can help them down the stretch.
3. I was surprised to hear that Kadri hadn’t played wing in years. I thought for sure he would’ve at least had a brief stint of it in Toronto when the Leafs had both John Tavares and Auston Matthews ahead of him in the pecking order. It just made way too much sense not to put him there. Even before the Gabe Landeksog injury was announced.
When you’re missing a player like Artturi Lehkonen, you can weaponize your center depth by pushing Kadri up the lineup and allowing Nic Roy to center the third line. That felt obvious from the moment he was acquired, and Jared Bednar hinted at the idea of him playing on the wing.
But after the Landeskog announcement, there was no question. He replaced the captain on the top line, and he had no issue demanding the spotlight.
“I haven’t played wing in years. And when I found out about that, mentally I knew I had to be a little bit sharp today,” Kadri said. “I don’t mind playing it. I think as a centerman, hopping over to the wing is a lot easier than a winger hopping over to center. And playing with those two guys, they make it easy on me. We were able to have some chemistry and make some great plays.”
And for the record, the Landeskog injury is not related to his knee. It has everything to do with the unfortunate Cale Makar shot that hit him in a sensitive area in Dallas.
4. This is something Bednar can certainly weaponize throughout the playoffs. When a line isn’t clicking, you have another top-six centerman in Kadri who can step in down the middle. If a winger struggles or if someone gets hurt, shifting him to the wing is also an easy option.
With this roster, the options are endless. It gives Bednar and the coaching staff a lot more to work with during those adjustments in the middle of a playoff series.
“If someone’s having a bad night. It’s our coaching staff’s job to recognize that and move somebody around,” Bednar said. “We want to be dangerous throughout our lineup.”
5. To clarify, I do believe that Kadri would’ve played the left wing with Brock Nelson and Valeri Nichushkin had it not been for the Landeskog injury.
6. You need your depth to step up. That’s why having a loaded lineup matters. After the Avs blew it on the power play to give up the go-ahead goal, and couldn’t score on another opportunity after that, it was the depth that stepped up to tie it.
Specifically, the new guys. Nic Roy redirected a shot from Brett Kulak for his first in an Avalanche uniform. It’s nice to see those guys pitching in like that.
7. I thought Nichushkin struggled in regulation. Same for Nelson at times. But I was also pleased with Joel Kiviranta’s performance. Even Roy, who Bednar said is still trying to figure things out systematically, had some great flashes.
8. Scott Wedgewood looked excellent yet again. He’s now made 42 saves on 44 shots against Dallas and Minnesota. And his shootouts have looked much better than they did earlier in the year.
9. The Avalanche and Wild end their season series pretty much right down the middle. Each team won 3-2 in a shootout at home, and each team won in regulation on the road. The Avs won 5-1 in Minnesota and the Wild won 5-2 at Ball Arena. If the Wild get past Dallas, this would be a fun playoff series.
10. Kadri’s final stat line: One assist, five shots, three high-danger chances, and a +1 rating in 21:47 of ice time.