Flames To Sign Kadri, Trade Monahan, 1st rd Pick To Canadiens

It appears that Nazem Kadri finally has a new home and the Montreal Canadiens have a new centre.

In a sudden flurry of NHL trade and free agent buzz on Twitter early Thursday afternoon, multiple reports from various NHL insiders and now an NHL source has confirmed to Montreal Hockey Now that as a result of the Calgary Flames signing Nazem Kadri to a reported seven-year contract that will carry a $7M AAV, the Flames are trading centre Sean Monahan to the Montreal Canadiens and to accommodate the Kadri cap hit.

To sweeten the offer and persuade Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes to take on the final season of Monahan’s seven-year, $44.6 million contract that carries a $6.3 million cap hit, Flames GM Brad Treliving is including a first round draft pick.

Sportsnet NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman and ESPN NHL Insider Kevin Weekes broke the surprising news that Kadri was signing with the Flames first.

Kadri 7x$7M in CAL

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) August 18, 2022

Sportsnet Montreal Canadiens reporter Eric Engels was first to report that Monahan may be coming to the Canadiens.

Not saying it’s def happening, but if Sean Monahan is moving from Flames, there’s a distinct possibility it’s to Montreal. Some buzz on this came my way a few weeks ago. We’ll see what happens, but CGY appears to be working on something re Monahan/Kadri as @KevinWeekes suggested

— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) August 18, 2022

Friedman then confirmed that trade 22 minutes later.

Sean Monahan is going to MON to make room for Kadri

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) August 18, 2022

The news that Kadri is signing with the Flames was certainly a big surprise considering the numerous reports since free agency began on July 13 that he would sign with the New York Islanders. However, just as surprising was the Canadiens helping to facilitate the signing and take on Monahan’s final season of his contract, considering that they began the day just $248, 334 under the $82.5 million salary cap. As of 2 PM ET on Thursday afternoon, there was no confirmation on what the return for Monahan would be and/or how the Canadiens were going to get back under the cap once the trade was official.

The Flames certainly can’t take on any cap space as they’re now at $635,000 below the cap per our friends at PuckPedia.

With Kadri signed for $7M per @FriedgeHNIC, #flames are $5.74M over cap with 24 players on the projected roster (15F/7D/2G).

RFA: Ruzicka

W/ Monahan ($6.375M) traded per @reporterchris, leaves #Flames $635K cap space w/ full 23, assuming no retainedhttps://t.co/KKueourKhE

— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) August 18, 2022

This is still a developing story and we will have you covered here at MHN as more news breaks.