Nazem Kadri excited to join Avalanche, but calls leaving Flames 'bittersweet'

As the 3 p.m. ET trade deadline approached on Friday, Nazem Kadri sat anxiously awaiting news on whether he would be packing his bags to join a Stanley Cup contender.

In fact, the 35-year-old centre thought he might be staying put with the Calgary Flames once the clock struck three and he still hadn't received word that he would be headed back to the Colorado Avalanche.

"I really didn't think anything was (happening) of real significance...," he told reporters Friday after the trade. "(I) got a call, it was actually after the deadline had ended. So I originally thought that I was possibly staying, and then I got the call that Denver was the spot."

With his name mired in rumours throughout trade season, Kadri emerged as a potential target down the middle for contending teams — with connections to Montreal and Colorado leaking in the lead-up to Friday.

But ultimately, a return to the city where Kadri won his first Stanley Cup got across the finish line at the final minute.

"I think my head almost hit the ceiling," Kadri said of the moment he found out. "I was so excited."

While the elation of re-joining his championship-winning teammates was clearly top of mind for Kadri, he did call the trade "bittersweet," as he had "really grown fond of the city of Calgary" over the past four seasons.

Kadri initially landed with the Flames on a seven-year, $49-million contract in the 2022 off-season. And while the team has slowly sold off pieces over the course of his career in Alberta, Kadri remained its most productive player with 100 goals and 139 assists in 307 games.

In that time, Kadri said, the two sides had developed a "great relationship," which played a role in how Friday's trade went down.

"I've had nothing but the utmost respect for the city and the team and the organization," he said. "I've truly loved my time as Flame, and I think the respect was mutual.

"We were able to have open discussions and transparent conversations that were honest. I think, in the league these days, that could be a bit of a lost art... So just completely honoured to have been a Flame and to have the people in the front office that are just stand-up individuals."

Kadri won't have to wait long to see his now old teammates, as the Avalanche and Flames have yet to play this season and are scheduled for three matchups down the stretch.

And even if the reunion will be courteous off the ice, Kadri doesn't plan on cutting the Flames any slack on it.

"It's going to be fun. I don't cut deals out there," he joked. "So it shouldn't be too difficult."