Nazem Kadri finally won a Stanley Cup this season after years of falling short. The Colorado Avalanche star enjoyed a prolific postseason, during which he battled through thumb surgery in order to help his team win the title. Once the Stanley Cup celebrations die down, Kadri will have some crucial decisions to make regarding his next contract.

The 31-year-old is set to hit unrestricted free agency this offseason and it’s unclear if the Avs are willing to make the required sacrifices in order to bring him back. The Avalanche will need to make a decision between Kadri, Valeri Nichushkin, and Darcy Kuemper, among other free agents, and at least one of them will not be retained.

Last year in Colorado, playing in the high-paced Avs offense, Kadri registered a career-high 87 points. The veteran center scored 28 goals and put up a jaw-dropping 59 assists, which almost doubled the previous best mark in his career (30 in 2013-14 with Toronto). If Kadri does end up hitting the open market, there will be a laundry list of teams interested in adding him to their ranks.

NHL

Goaltending Should Be the Avalanche’s No. 1 Priority

With that in mind, here are the three best destinations for Nazem Kadri in 2022 NHL free agency.