Kadri brushes off trade rumors: 'Focused on winning'

The Calgary Flames' poor start to the season has pushed Nazem Kadri's name into trade rumors, but the veteran center is focused on righting the ship with his current squad rather than forcing his way out of town.

"I've had to approach a lot more difficult situations than something like this," Kadri told Sportsnet's Eric Francis. "So for me, it's really nothing that draws my attention. Obviously, there's going to be some questions about it. I'm okay to answer them, but at the end of the day I'm focused on winning hockey games."

The Flames snapped an eight-game losing streak Sunday and are last in the Western Conference at 2-7-1. Kadri would be among Calgary's most attractive trade chips if the Flames decide to sell assets. He leads the team in scoring with seven points on the young season.

The 35-year-old has three years remaining on his contract at a $7-million cap hit. His trade protection dropped from a full no-movement clause to a 13-team no-trade list this season, adding fuel to recent speculation.

Kadri has a long history of being in the trade spotlight, and was dealt from the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Colorado Avalanche in 2019. That experience is helping him stay focused on his performance this time around.

"I don't think there's anything, from a media PR standpoint, that I haven't seen," Kadri said.

Kadri is closing in on his 1,000th NHL game. He's notched 717 points over 17 seasons, and captured a Stanley Cup with Colorado in 2022.