Report: There's an offer on the table for Nazem Kadri

We're now nearly one full month into the offseason free agent period and star forward Nazem Kadri remains unsigned.

To be perfectly honest, I felt like that aside from Johnny Gaudreau that Kadri was the best free agent available on the open market. I was sure that he'd receive a crazy money offer on the opening day of free agency. And yet... well... here we are on the 9th of August and he's still on the open market. 

So... what gives?

Well, one theory is that Kadri would like to re-sign with the Colorado Avalanche but he's waiting for GM Joe Sakic to clear cap space via trade in order to bring him back.

There's another theory out there that the New York Islanders have already signed Kadri but simply haven't made the news official yet. Isles GM Lou Lamoriello is infamous for keeping his information in house and only releasing it to fans and media when required to by NHL rules. You may recall that the Isles announced a slew of signings last offseason just prior to the opening of training camp when they were obligated to release their training camp roster to the NHL. So, the theory is that Lamoriello and the Isles are once again pulling this move and that Kadri has already signed a deal with them.

The problem with this theory is that no credible NHL insider has reported on it. And... where there's smoke, there's usually fire. 

In fact, just today NHL insider Frank Seravalli reported that, while Kadri hasn't signed with the Isles, the team has presented him with a seven year, $49 million deal. 

From Seravalli on his most recent Daily Face-Off podcast:

“I think the Isles put an offer on the table for Kadri. Other teams have told me they believe it’s in the 7x7 range.”

- Frank Seravalli

Again, what's surprising to me is that this offer didn't come to Kadri on day one of free agency. Are you telling me there aren't other teams out there who would give Kadri seven years at $7 million per? To me, this only lends credence to the theory that Kadri is waiting for Sakic and the Avs to make room for him. But frankly, I'm not sure anyone has any idea what's happening with Kadri these days including Kadri himself.