Nazem Kadri will rejoin the Colorado Avalanche in his second stint after winning the Stanley Cup with them back in 2022. But what should be the realistic expectations for the 35-year-old centerman?

Kadri’s move back to the Mile High City sent shockwaves across the hockey world an hour after the deadline had closed. For fans and the organization alike, memories of better days with No. 91 came rushing back.

But almost four years on from that Stanley Cup win, a lot has changed. There are several new bodies in the lineup, and everyone is four years older – Kadri included. So what should his expectations be?

Kadri’s year so far

A career 87-point season is not in the cards for the Canadian centerman. But on a struggling Calgary Flames team, he put up 41 points with 12 goals and 29 assists.

However, his role in Colorado will be very different. With the Flames, he was the first-line centerman. With the Avalanche, he’ll likely play as the third-line center.

He’s averaged 19:22 nightly this season, and had 19:14 of average ice time back in 2022. But he will likely be closer to a mark like Ross Colton. Colton has averaged only 12:53 a night this season.

Hence, Kadri won’t get as much ice time to show his stuff. He’s slowed down and lost the edge of his defensive game. But he will still get to work and make plays as he did for so long in Colorado.

Kadri will also affect the books. He is still signed for three more years and will be 38 when his contract is up. In the twilight of his career, he is a risk if his game goes off a cliff. But there have been no signs of that thus far.

Kadri’s usage within the lineup

However, what he brings in terms of versatility in the here and now is spectacular. Now, the Avalanche has tons of different options with its lineup.

Kadri could easily move up to the second-line center if Brock Nelson has a dip. Nelson could be utilized as he was for Team USA in the Olympics, playing further down the lineup while still showcasing his offensive prowess.

Plus, Kadri could be reunited with Valeri Nichushkin on the wing. Those two paired together brilliantly in the past. With Gabriel Landeskog and Artturi Lehkonen as options as well, there’s plenty to like and pair together.

Furthermore, also newly acquired Nicolas Roy can help on the wing. With Jack Drury likely playing as a fourth-line center, Roy can move to the wing and be helpful there. Jared Bednar has hinted at this being a possibility.


Of course, none of this is even taking into consideration what the lines could be with Logan O’Connor in the mix. He recently joined the team for the morning skate before playing the Dallas Stars on Friday night. However, the expectations for him aren’t solidified without knowing his status and availability until later.

While he hasn’t yet taken contact or been a full participant, he seems to be closer than ever before to making his first appearance of the season. The move for Kadri is not only a solid one for him as a player, but for the entire organization in terms of depth and options.

Unfortunately, a high-scoring Kadri, as he did in 2022, is likely not in the realm of possibility. But with his previous tenure, knowledge of the organization, and chemistry with some key players, expectations should still be decently high for a folklore in Avalanche history coming home.