Report: Avalanche reportedly tender an offer to Nazem Kadri

So... is Nazem Kadri a New York Islander yet?

It seems like each weeks there's a new report that the free agent forward has signed a long term deal with the Islanders, yet there's no confirmation of such a deal out there. NHL insider Frank Seravalli reported last week that the Islanders had tabled a seven year, $49 million offer for Kadri but that Kadri had not yet agreed to terms. There's also speculation that Kadri HAS in fact signed a deal with the Isles, but due to GM Lou Lamoriello's tight lipped way of doing business, that the official announcement won't come until training camp in September. As is always the case with Lamoriello, no one is really sure where we stand.

Meanwhile ESPN insider Kristen Shilton reported today that the Colorado Avalanche have tabled a four year, $24 million offer to Kadri. If this is indeed the case, it's obviously a very shrewd move by Avs GM Joe Sakic. He realizes that Kadri has been instrumental in his team's success and that he deserves a fair contract, but he's not about to blow up his entire salary cap structure for an aging forward who plays an aggressive style. Love him or hate him, the fact of the matter is that players like Kadri rarely age well and he's not the type of player that you commit big dollars and big term to. Personally, I think he's an extremely valuable player but if he prevents the Avs from re-signing a guy like Nathan Mackinnon or Mikko Rantanen long term, he's gotta go.

I wouldn't be surprised if Shilton's report is true and indeed Kadri ends up re-upping with the Avs for much less money than we all expected. Stay tuned.