Nazem Kadri: Avalanche Ownership “Made It Clear To Me They’d Like Me To Stay”

Nazem Kadri still has a lot of ties to media in Toronto, so it wasn’t a surprise that he hopped on the “Real Kyper and Bourne” Sportsnet show from there today. The Colorado Avalanche center had some interesting things to tell the two.

Asked if Colorado would be his No. 1 choice as a team to re-sign with, the potential unrestricted free agent told “Real Kyper and Bourne”:

“How could it not be?” The Kroenkes have been great supporters of mine and made it clear to me that they’d like me to stay also but we understand that there’s a business aspect involved. We’re going to try to work together,” Kadri said.

The fact that Stan and Josh Kroenke want him back is a pretty good sign that it might happen. It’s going to cost, though. Kadri is coming off a career year, with 87 points in 71 games. He became a playoff hero twice – with a hat trick in a clutch Game 4 win in St. Louis, despite dealing with some racist harassment, and again in Game 4 in Tampa Bay with an overtime goal. That Game 4 was his first game back after returning 18 days after breaking his right thumb.

The numbers say Kadri could easily be considered the best second-line center in the league. He had a $4.5 million cap hit. What would he be worth on the open market? I think the number would have to start with at least a 6, probably a 7 and you know Kadri is going to want to get the most term he can. He’ll be 32 in October. Kadri is one of several Colorado Avalanche players who could go UFA on July 13.

There will be plenty of teams interested in signing Nazem Kadri if he gets to market, trust me.

Kadri also talked briefly about coming back from the thumb injury, telling “Real Kyper and Bourne”:

“It was a bit of an emotional roller coaster. Soon as it happened I knew my hand was broken. Knew it was going to be a challenge. It was a race against time. Had a lot of great help, great staff and was able to get back in time.

Kadri said he learned that the thumb is responsible for “about 70 percent of the functionality in your hand.” He said the thumb was “frozen up” for games.”

Now, Kadri can just heal up by enjoying a summer with a Stanley Cup and some fatter paychecks:

I think I’ve shown what my worth is and just looking forward to things playing out,” he told “Real Kyper and Bourne.”