Report Maple Leafs Closing Secret Deal To Sign Red Wings MVP In A Blockbuster Trade

The Toronto Maple Leafs are expected to be active in the offseason, especially on the trade front, and Sportsnet radio host Sam McKee shared a mock deal with the Calgary Flames that would bring back Nazem Kadri.

The Maple Leafs have been the subject of trade rumors since they were eliminated as Mitch Marner and John Tavares have both been mentioned as possible players that could be traded.

On June 20 while co-hosting Real Kyper & Bourne on Sportsnet, McKee shared a mock trade between the Maple Leafs and Flames.

“Mitch Marner for Rasmus Andersson and Nazem Kadri,” McKee said. “A guy that is familiar with this market, he is beloved here, who everyone says is the one that got away, a really good playoff performer, heart and soul kind of guy. Loved being a Leaf, didn’t want to leave and you get a right shot defensemen finally to pair with (Morgan Reilly).”

Kadri was drafted by the Maple Leafs with the seventh overall pick in the 2009 draft. He spent parts of 10 years with Toronto before being traded to the Colorado Avalanche.

This past season with Calgary, Kadri recorded 29 goals and 46 assists for 75 points in 82 games. However, the knock on Kadri is his contract as the 33-year-old has five years left on his deal that pays him $7 million per season.

Andersson, meanwhile, is 27 years old and recorded 9 goals and 30 assists for 39 points in 78 games last season. He has two years left on the six-year $27.3 million deal he signed with Calgary in 2020.

After McKee pitched the trade, his co-host Justin Bourne wasn’t a fan of it for the Maple Leafs.

Instead, he says he would rather do it without Kadri and make it a one-for-one with Marner and Andersson. He believes Kadri isn’t needed and instead, the Maple Leafs could use the additional cap space better.