Nazem Kadri (Arabic: ناظم كادري; born October 6, 1990) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player, currently serving as a center for the Colorado Avalanche in the National Hockey League (NHL).
Kadri was selected seventh overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. His junior career was spent in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), initially with the Kitchener Rangers and subsequently with the London Knights. He secured the J. Ross Robertson Cup with Kitchener and was a member of the Rangers squad that was defeated by the Spokane Chiefs in the 2008 Memorial Cup final. In 2022, Kadri won the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche, marking him as the first Muslim player to achieve this distinction.
Kadri has represented Canada in international competitions. He secured a silver medal with the Canadian junior national team at the 2010 World Junior Championship, where the team was defeated 6–5 by the United States in the final match.
Early life
Born on October 6, 1990, in London, Ontario, Kadri is the second of five children and the sole son of Samir and Suhayla Kadri. His paternal grandparents, originally from Kfar Danis, a religiously diverse Muslim-Christian village in Lebanon, relocated to Ontario when Samir was four years old. Samir had aspired to play hockey during his youth, but his family lacked the financial means to support his participation. Upon Nazem's birth, his father resolved that Nazem would be afforded the chance to engage in the sport. Kadri commenced skating at the age of two, joined his inaugural hockey team at four, and achieved an elite playing level within the subsequent two years. The Kadri family regularly attended National Hockey League (NHL) games; notably, despite residing in proximity to Toronto, they were supporters of the Montreal Canadiens.
Kadri demonstrated proficiency in hockey, basketball, and volleyball, participating at Jack Chambers Public School and subsequently at A. B. Lucas Secondary School. Towards the conclusion of his secondary education, Kadri expressed strong confidence in his impending selection in the NHL draft. Concurrently, he played minor ice hockey within the London Jr. Knights system, part of the Alliance Hockey organization, where he captained teams at various minor levels.
Playing career
Junior
Kadri initiated his Ontario Hockey League (OHL) career with the Kitchener Rangers, having been selected 18th overall in the first round of the 2006 OHL draft. In his sophomore OHL season, he participated in 68 games, accumulating 25 goals and 40 assists, totaling 65 points. During the subsequent playoffs, Kadri contributed to the Rangers' OHL championship victory and their advancement to the Memorial Cup final, where they were defeated by the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League (WHL).
Subsequent to the 2007–08 season, Kadri was traded to the London Knights, his hometown team, in exchange for multiple draft selections. During the 2008–09 season, he appeared in 56 games for the Knights, registering 25 goals and 53 assists, accumulating 78 points. Kadri's participation in the 2008–09 season was interrupted by a broken jaw, which precluded his involvement with Team OHL in the 2008 ADT Canada Russia Challenge. Although invited to the Canadian junior team's selection camp for the 2009 World Junior Championship, Kadri did not secure a position on the final roster. Nevertheless, in the same 2008–09 season, he was chosen to compete in the OHL All-Star Classic, representing the Western Conference and scoring a goal.
Subsequent to the 2008–09 OHL season, Kadri was drafted seventh overall in the first round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs. On July 6, 2009, he formalized a three-year, entry-level contract with the organization.
Following his release by the Maple Leafs, Kadri rejoined the Knights in the OHL. He was selected to participate for Team OHL in the 2009 Subway Super Series, a competition previously known as the ADT Canada Russia Challenge. Furthermore, he was chosen to represent the Western Conference in the 2009–10 OHL All-Star Classic, marking his second consecutive appearance in the OHL All-Star Game. On March 30, 2010, Kadri received the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Player of the Week honor after accumulating nine points, comprising two goals and seven assists, across three games. The OHL subsequently recognized Kadri as the league's Player of the Month for March 2010, a period during which he registered 26 points (9 goals and 17 assists) in 10 games.
Professional (2009–present)
Toronto Maple Leafs (2009–2019)
Prior to the 2009–10 season, Kadri participated in the Maple Leafs' training camp. He played in six preseason games with the team, recording three goals and two assists. Toronto's then-head coach, Ron Wilson, had stated before the training camp that Kadri needed to secure a position as one of the team's top six forwards to remain with the squad; ultimately, Kadri returned to the Knights before the start of the regular NHL season. Due to injuries sustained by forwards Christian Hanson and Fredrik Sjöström, Kadri received an emergency call-up to the Maple Leafs, making his NHL debut on February 8, 2010, against the San Jose Sharks. He did not record any points and finished with a -1 plus-minus rating while playing on a line with rookie Viktor Stålberg and veteran Lee Stempniak. This call-up was for a single game, after which he returned to the London Knights. Ron Wilson had indicated that Kadri would likely join the Maple Leafs for the 2010–11 season, but this became uncertain following comments during the preseason from Wilson and then-Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke, who suggested that Kadri was not performing at the expected level and that his "time was running out" to prove himself.
Furthermore, Burke traditionally strongly supported rookies gaining experience at the American Hockey League (AHL) level before their NHL careers. Kadri was part of the final round of Maple Leafs' player reductions and was subsequently assigned to the AHL's Toronto Marlies for the start of the season. However, on November 12, Kadri was recalled by the Maple Leafs, alongside fellow prospect Keith Aulie. On November 16, in a game against the Nashville Predators, Kadri recorded his first NHL point, assisting on a goal by Kris Versteeg. Two days later, on November 18, Kadri achieved his first multi-point game, contributing two assists in a match against the New Jersey Devils. On March 19, 2011, Kadri scored his first career NHL goal against Boston Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas.
In 2012, Kadri was selected for the AHL All-Star Game.
Before the 2012–13 season, Kadri began summer training under the supervision of former NHL player and Maple Leaf Gary Roberts, aiming to build muscle and "play with explosiveness." On January 19, 2013, when NHL play resumed following the 2012–13 NHL lockout that canceled most of the first half of the scheduled regular season, Kadri secured a spot in the Maple Leafs' opening night lineup against the Montreal Canadiens. He scored the Maple Leafs' first goal of the season, a powerplay goal assisted by Phil Kessel, against goaltender Carey Price. Kadri concluded the game as its first star. A month later, on February 19, in a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Kadri engaged in his first NHL fight, clashing with Tampa Bay defenseman Victor Hedman. With the Maple Leafs losing 4–1 late in the game, Hedman delivered a hit to Kadri's back, prompting Kadri to confront the 1.98-meter defenseman. Punches were then exchanged before teammates and officials intervened to stop the altercation. On February 28, in a 5–4 victory over the New York Islanders, Kadri recorded his first career hat-trick. On March 30, he scored his second career hat-trick, and second of the season, in a 4–0 win against the Ottawa Senators. He concluded the season with 18 goals and 26 assists, trailing only Phil Kessel in team points and goals, as the Maple Leafs secured the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference, clinching a playoff berth for the first time since 2004. On May 4, Kadri registered his first Stanley Cup playoff point, assisting on a Kessel goal after Kadri released him on a breakaway. On May 13, he scored his first playoff goal against the Boston Bruins in Game 7. Despite the Leafs holding a 4–1 lead in the third period of Game 7, they ultimately lost the game 5–4 in overtime to the fourth-seeded Bruins, with Patrice Bergeron scoring the series-winning goal in overtime.
On September 11, 2013, Kadri signed a new two-year contract with Toronto, valued at $5.8 million. On November 13, Kadri elbowed Minnesota Wild goaltender Niklas Bäckström in the head. Consequently, the NHL Department of Player Safety suspended Kadri for three games. During the 2013–14 season, his first full 82-game season, Kadri achieved career highs in goals (20) and points (50).
Kadri faced two suspensions during the 2014–15 season; the first was an organizational suspension for being late to a team practice, resulting in a three-game ban. A week later, the NHL suspended Kadri for four games for illegally checking Edmonton Oilers forward Matt Fraser to the head. Despite these setbacks, Kadri recorded 39 points in 73 games, leading all Toronto centers in goals.
In the subsequent season, he signed a new one-year contract with Toronto, valued at $4.1 million. On April 1, 2016, Kadri received a $5,000 fine from the NHL for his second and third infractions of the 2015–16 season. The fine stemmed from two incidents: one on March 12 against the Ottawa Senators, and another on March 21 against the Calgary Flames. On April 4, 2016, Kadri was again suspended by the NHL after delivering a hit to the head of Detroit Red Wings center Luke Glendening. This incident resulted in a four-game suspension for Kadri, effectively ending his season, and as a repeat offender under the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement, he was also fined $200,000. Despite these transgressions, Kadri's performance throughout the season received significant praise from the Leafs' management, particularly from head coach Mike Babcock and general manager Lou Lamoriello. Furthermore, Kadri was highly commended for his ability to draw penalties; although he had always been recognized for this skill, it garnered increased media attention this season, with Kadri drawing 49 penalties, a league record. Additionally, Kadri led the Maple Leafs in various offensive categories, including points (45) and assists (28). On April 13, following the conclusion of Toronto's season, Kadri signed a new six-year contract with the team, valued at $27 million.
On January 23, 2017, Kadri scored his 100th career NHL goal during a game against the Calgary Flames. In the Maple Leafs' first-round series against the Washington Capitals, who had won the Presidents' Trophy twice consecutively in the 2017 playoffs, Kadri played nearly 95 minutes on the ice at even strength throughout the series, helping Toronto extend it to six games. He concluded the series with two points, comprising one goal and one assist, across all six games, as Toronto was eliminated by the Capitals in six contests.
During the 2017–18 season, Kadri recorded his fourth career NHL hat-trick on February 14, 2018, in a 6–3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. In Toronto's first-round series of the 2018 playoffs against the third-seeded Boston Bruins, Kadri received a three-game suspension for a hit on Bruins player Tommy Wingels in Game 1. Toronto ultimately lost the series in seven games.
In Toronto's second consecutive first-round series against the third-seeded Boston Bruins during the 2019 playoffs, Kadri was suspended for the remainder of the first round due to a hit on Bruins player Jake DeBrusk in Game 2. The Maple Leafs lost the series in seven games, squandering a 3–2 series lead in the process.
Colorado Avalanche (2019–2022)
On July 1, 2019, Kadri, along with Calle Rosén and a 2020 third-round draft pick, was traded to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Tyson Barrie, Alexander Kerfoot, and a 2020 sixth-round draft pick. He found success with his new team, serving as their second-line center and recording 19 goals and 17 assists in his first 51 games, before missing the remainder of the 2019–20 season due to a lower-body injury. The regular season itself concluded three weeks early due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, and the 2020 playoffs were subsequently held in a "bubble" environment in Edmonton, Canada, at Rogers Place during the summer. Kadri rejoined the team for the playoffs and played a crucial role in the team's victories in the qualifying and first rounds. Colorado ultimately lost to the Dallas Stars in seven games in the second round.
As the pandemic persisted, the NHL modified its format for a shortened 2020–21 season, with teams competing exclusively within their divisions. Kadri recorded 11 goals and 21 assists in all 56 games played, while the Avalanche had an excellent season, securing the Presidents' Trophy as the league's top team, narrowly edging out rivals the Vegas Golden Knights. The Avalanche, entering the 2021 playoffs as one of the favorites, defeated the St. Louis Blues in the first round. However, Kadri received an eight-game suspension for an illegal hit to the head of Blues defenseman Justin Faulk in Game 2 of the first-round playoff series. Kadri appealed the suspension, but it was upheld by the league. Kadri did not return for the 2021 playoffs, as the final game of his suspension coincided with Colorado's elimination in the second round by the Vegas Golden Knights in six games. He later reflected on the situation, stating: "I hate letting people down, I do. And when I picked my head up off the ice and saw Justin lying there… I knew what was coming. I knew. When I was sitting in the penalty box, my mind was just racing. I was upset with myself."
For the 2021–22 season, the NHL reinstated its standard competitive format. This season marked Kadri's career-best performance, as he scored 28 goals and recorded 59 assists, setting new personal records for assists and total points. For the first time in his career, he achieved a point-per-game average. Before sustaining an upper-body injury in March, Kadri was on pace to reach the 100-point milestone for the first time in his career. He missed eight games but returned for the final regular-season matches, with the Avalanche concluding the season as the top seed in the Western Conference and second overall for the Presidents' Trophy, trailing only the Florida Panthers. Kadri again became a focal point of controversy during Game 3 of the 2022 Avalanche second-round playoff series against the St. Louis Blues, when he collided with Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington while driving to the net. Consequently, Binnington was forced to exit the game with a lower-body injury and did not play for the remainder of the series. The Avalanche, who were trailing at the time, ultimately won the game. Blues head coach Craig Berube, when questioned about the incident, simply stated, "Look at Kadri's reputation. That's all I've got to say." Kadri denied any intent to injure Binnington, while Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar insisted it was an accidental collision resulting from a prior entanglement between Kadri and Blues defenseman Calle Rosén. Kadri further alleged that Binnington threw a water bottle at him during an on-camera interview after the game. In Game 4, he recorded his first career playoff hat-trick, propelling the Avalanche to a 3–1 series lead. Blues forward David Perron was subsequently penalized for cross-checking Kadri during the game. The Avalanche won the series, advancing to the conference finals for the first time in 20 years. During Game 3 of the conference finals against the Edmonton Oilers, Kadri sustained an injury after being cross-checked into the boards by Oilers forward Evander Kane, with Bednar announcing he would miss the remainder of the series "if not longer." Kadri underwent thumb surgery. Defying initial expectations, Kadri returned to play in Game 4 of the 2022 Stanley Cup Final series for the Avalanche against the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions, the Tampa Bay Lightning, scoring the overtime game-winning goal. The Avalanche ultimately won the series in six games to secure the Cup. Kadri's status as the first Muslim player to win the Stanley Cup, and arguably the sport's most prominent Muslim player, subsequently garnered significant attention.
Following his strong performance throughout the final season of his contract, considerable speculation arose regarding Kadri's next contract, with many anticipating that he would be too expensive for the Avalanche to re-sign under the salary cap. Kadri, for his part, expressed a desire to return to Colorado, but added, "I've shown my worth and I'm just waiting to see how this all plays out."
Calgary Flames (2022–2026)
On August 18, 2022, Kadri signed a seven-year, $49 million contract with the Calgary Flames as a free agent. On November 5, 2025, Kadri played his 1,000th NHL game, becoming the 411th player to reach this milestone.
Return to Colorado (2026–present)
On March 6, 2026, Kadri returned to Colorado, along with a 2027 fourth-round draft pick, in exchange for Max Curran, Victor Olofsson, a conditional 2027 second-round pick, and a conditional 2028 first-round pick.
International Play
Kadri competed for Team Ontario at the 2007 Canada Winter Games, where they secured a gold medal. He first represented Canada at the 2007 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, where the team finished in fourth place. Kadri received an invitation to Canada's selection camp for the 2010 World Junior Championships, held in Saskatoon and Regina, Saskatchewan. After being cut in 2009, Kadri was selected to represent Canada in 2010. In Canada's preliminary round game against the United States, Kadri was among the players chosen for the shootout, scoring against goaltender Jack Campbell to help Canada secure the victory.
During the tournament, Kadri recorded three goals and five assists. In the same tournament, Kadri garnered attention for declining to shake hands with Swiss player Nino Niederreiter after a semi-final match. Kadri did not disclose specific reasons for his refusal but absolved Niederreiter of using any racial slurs, stating: "Obviously, in big games like that, players lose their composure a little bit, but I wasn't upset about anything he said. It was just that I felt it wasn't necessary for me to shake his hand." Kadri later expressed regret for his refusal, remarking, "I'm a little bit remorseful." In the gold medal game against the United States, Kadri contributed two assists, including one for Jordan Eberle's tying goal with 1:35 remaining in the third period. However, Canada lost the game in overtime, and Kadri and his teammates received silver medals.
Personal Life
Kadri was named after his paternal grandfather. He is also a Muslim. Kadri was the first Muslim player drafted by the Maple Leafs and held the distinction of being the highest-drafted Muslim in NHL history until he was surpassed by Nail Yakupov in 2012. During high school, Kadri served as a member of his school's Muslim Students' Association. Kadri is the fourth player of Lebanese descent to compete in the NHL, following John Hanna, Alain Nasreddine, and Ed Hatoum.
In July 2018, Kadri married his partner, Ashley Cave, at Casa Loma in Toronto. Their first child, a daughter named Naylah, was born in July 2019.
In June 2020, Kadri became a founding board member of the Hockey Diversity Alliance, an organization dedicated to combating intolerance and racism in hockey.
On August 27, 2022, Kadri was awarded the Key to the City of London, Ontario, by Mayor Ed Holder.
Following the Gaza conflict, Kadri publicly expressed his support for Palestine and called for a ceasefire on social media.
Career Statistics
Regular Season and Playoffs
International
Awards and Honours
References
- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL, or Eliteprospects, or Hockey-Reference, or The Internet Hockey Database
- Information on his Muslim heritage regarding his NHL career at TheNational
- Nazem Kadri on Twitter