Top star has only intensified the frustration for Avalanche fans as he continues to rack up points for the Dallas Stars in the postseason. With 17 points in his last six games, including another hat trick in Game 7 against Colorado, he is in peak form, leaving Avalanche fans at home shaking their heads.
He added three more points on Sunday in a 5-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets, registering a goal and two assists. While he’s been on fire, a former beloved Avalanche player made the situation even more painful for fans of the Avs.
Nazem Kadri spent three seasons with Colorado, with his final year marking the team’s third Stanley Cup win. In 2022, he set a career-high 87 points, a significant jump from his previous two seasons with the Avalanche. However, that year was a contract year for Kadri, and the team chose to allocate funds to Valeri Nichushkin, Josh Manson, and Artturi Lehkonen rather than re-sign Kadri.
Since then, Colorado has struggled to replace Kadri’s contributions as the second-line center, with the front office repeatedly attempting to bring in a cheaper alternative.
Spoiler: it hasn’t worked.
Kadri signed a 7-year, \$49 million deal with the Calgary Flames in the 2022 offseason after the Avalanche decided to spend their resources elsewhere. Over his three seasons in Calgary, Kadri has played 82 games each year, recording 198 points.
Was Kadri subtly referencing himself as one of the “dawgs” that the Avalanche front office let go after winning the Cup? He was the first major player the team couldn’t reach an extension with following their championship, and this season, Mikko Rantanen joined that list.
Earlier this year, the Avalanche traded Rantanen well before the trade deadline after the two sides failed to agree on a contract extension. Rantanen then signed with Dallas after being traded for the second time, with the deal closely resembling the offer Colorado had on the table for him.
Kadri’s message is clear, though painful for Avalanche fans: the front office has allowed several key players to depart since their Stanley Cup win, and the franchise is now feeling the consequences.