Nazem Kadri’s late altercation with Lian Bichsel sharpens Avalanche trade debate
Nazem Kadri tangled with Lian Bichsel late Tuesday at the Scotiabank Saddledome, and the exchange has intensified talk about Colorado’s roster moves with the NHL trade deadline set to expire just after lunch on Friday. The fight and growing reunion buzz have put extra pressure on the Avalanche front office to decide whether to add a middle-six center before the deadline.
Nazem Kadri’s confrontation with Lian Bichsel
The sequence started about five minutes into the second stanza when Bichsel, the 6-foot-7 Dallas defenseman, pushed Kadri into the boards behind the net and then shoved him twice into the right post. Kadri, listed at 6-foot, retaliated with a right elbow and then landed a left jab to Bichsel’s jaw followed by a right cross while still holding his stick. Bichsel dropped a quick 1-2 on Kadri’s head before teammates closed in to separate the two players.
Avalanche roster picture and Kadri’s contract details
As of late Wednesday afternoon, general manager Chris MacFarland was still searching for a third-line or second-line center, a move that would directly affect how Kadri might fit back in Colorado. Kadri is 35 and in the fourth season of a seven-year, $49-million contract; he has three seasons remaining at $7 million per year. On the ice this season he had 41 points in 60 games as of Wednesday morning, and a face-off win rate of 47. 9 percent. Kadri also has not missed a regular-season game since leaving Denver as a free agent four summers ago.
Flames’ decision and a Mile High buzz about a reunion
The Calgary Flames turned down a major trade package for Nazem Kadri from the Avalanche, a move that several observers suggested could complicate Calgary’s rebuild. Meanwhile, fan polls and team-tracking chatter indicate a Kadri reunion buzz is real: the Avalanche have been scouting him in person, and internal discussions have taken place. Kadri himself said last month, "We’ve had internal chats... we've had discussions and communicated, " adding that an open line of conversation helps everyone understand where they stand.
Commentators looking at the Avalanche point to a recent swap that unlocked additional cap space and turned borderline scenarios into realistic deadline options. That has sharpened the choice between adding a veteran with term like Kadri or pursuing a shorter, less costly center. Analysts and fans note that either move would aim to boost face-offs, penalty-killing reliability and secondary scoring for Colorado’s playoff push.
Defenseman Josh Manson has argued the team needs to keep fine-tuning ahead of the postseason, and the Avalanche’s strong standings make the window for improvement especially urgent. With MacFarland actively hunting for center depth and the deadline imminent, Kadri’s availability and his on-ice edge make him a high-profile candidate to return.
The next confirmed milestone is the NHL trade deadline, which expires just after lunch on Friday. Colorado’s management must make its decisions before that window closes, with roster, cap and playoff considerations all in play.
