Steve Dangle & co. blast Avalanche top brass for failing to replace Nazem Kadri despite recent $22,500,000 forward's signing

Popular hockey podcast host Steve Dangle and co-host Jesse Blake blasted the Colorado Avalanche front office for failing to adequately replace former forward Nazem Kadri despite signing veteran center Brock Nelson to a $22,500,000 contract extension worth $7.5 million annually.

The Avalanche captured the Stanley Cup in 2022 with Kadri anchoring their second line, but chose not to re-sign him that offseason. Instead, they let him walk as a free agent. Nazem Kadri signed a 7-year, $49 million deal ($7 million AAV) with the Calgary Flames in 2022.

"I look back on when this team won the Stanley Cup and they had a pending free agent, and his name was Nazem Kadri," Jesse Blake said on an episode of The Steve Dangle Podcast.

"Yes, he signed a deal with the Calgary Flames... and he signed that deal for $7 million, less than Brock Nelson. Why the hell didn’t you just pay Nazem Kadri?"

Dangle agreed, arguing:

"It’s not just that they didn’t bring Kadri back. They’ve pretty consistently screwed up his replacement."

Blake built on Dangle's criticism, pointing out that the Avalanche have spent the last three years searching for a true replacement for Kadri.

Since his departure, they've gone through a revolving door of second-line centers. They traded for Ryan Johansen before the 2023–24 season, before doing a deal for Casey Mittelstadt. This was followed by the Avs acquiring Brock Nelson and trading Mittelstadt.

Looking back, Blake believes Colorado should have finalized the deal with Nazem Kadri instead.

---

Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland on Brock Nelson's signing

Colorado Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland expressed his satisfaction with securing Nelson for the next few years to stabilize the second-line center role, stating:

"We're thrilled to have reached an agreement with Brock to keep him in Colorado for the next three seasons. He's been a great center in this league for a long time,and he brings professionalism and a dedicated work ethic on and off the ice." (per ESPN)

"We think he's a great fit and is a stabilizing presence to our second-line center role with his size and ability to touch all areas of the ice," MacFarland continued.

Brock Nelson tallied six goals and 13 points over 19 games with Colorado this season.