Rumors suggest tension between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Calgary Flames concerning former Flames GM Brad Treliving.

Since Treliving’s move to the Maple Leafs, the Flames have reportedly avoided engaging with him in any capacity. However, if the two teams could put their differences aside, there’s a clear trade opportunity waiting to be explored.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are facing a significant challenge at the third-line center position, an area critical for playoff success. In recent games, they’ve rotated between David Kämpf and Pontus Holmberg, highlighting their lack of depth. With only two established top-nine centers on their roster, the Leafs desperately need reinforcements.

Enter the Calgary Flames, a team that won’t be contending for years and could consider offloading veteran Nazem Kadri. Kadri, a familiar face for Leafs fans, represents a potential solution. The Flames might even be persuaded to retain salary, making the deal financially viable for Toronto.

It’s no secret that Kadri’s history with the Leafs is complicated. His costly suspensions in consecutive Game 7s during the Auston Matthews Era forced Toronto to trade him. Those events remain pivotal moments in the franchise’s recent struggles to win a Stanley Cup.

However, bringing Kadri back could be a chance for redemption and provide the Leafs with the depth they desperately need down the middle. The question is whether the two sides can move past old wounds—and whether Kadri can help the Leafs finally take the next step in the postseason.

Not only might the Leafs have advanced past the Boston Bruins at least once had Nazem Kadri been available for those crucial Game 7s, but they likely would have enjoyed far more success in the years since. Imagine the impact of utilizing what could have been the most dominant center depth in the NHL’s Salary Cap Era for more than a single season.

But the past is the past, and what matters now is the future. What could be more poetic than Kadri returning to Toronto to help them finally secure a Stanley Cup during the final year of John Tavares’ contract?

Despite a down season statistically, Kadri remains a solid player. His underwhelming numbers can likely be attributed to playing on a struggling Calgary Flames team. For the Leafs, Kadri would represent a massive upgrade over their current options at third-line center, giving them a deeper, more competitive lineup as they push for playoff success.

A reunion between the Leafs and Kadri feels like the perfect script: redemption, a chance to rewrite history, and the opportunity to turn a lingering “what if” into a Stanley Cup reality.

The Leafs could take on Nazem Kadri’s full contract—$7 million per year with four years remaining—but that option is highly unlikely.

Instead, for a minimal price—perhaps a couple of late-round picks, similar to what they received for Timothy Liljegren—the Leafs could potentially convince the Flames to retain part of Kadri’s salary while they focus on rebuilding. There’s even the possibility of a larger deal, one that might include players like Rasmus Andersson or MacKenzie Weegar.

Ultimately, Kadri fits exactly what the Leafs need right now. Better yet, his cost is likely low enough that Toronto could still use their top trade assets to address other key areas of need.