Kadri speaks for the first time since joining Flames, explains reasoning for returning to Canada

In case you some how, some way missed yesterday's blockbuster news, free agent forward Nazem Kadri signed a 7 year, $49 million contract with the Calgary Flames, forcing the Flames to trade forward Sean Monahan to the Montreal Canadiens.

It was a 'big moves' kind of day for Flames GM Brad Treliving on his 53rd birthday yesterday, but given all that big moves he's made this offseason it must have seemed like just another Thursday at the office.

With Kadri now in the fold Treliving has added Kadri, Jonathan Huberdeau and Mackenzie Weegar in place of Johnny Gaudreau, Matthew Tkachuk and Sean Monahan. Not bad... not bad at all given the position that Treliving found himself in. Neither Gaudreau nor Tkachuk wanted to remain in Calgary and Monahan's contract was a serious anchor. By turning three potentially negative situations into three impact roster players, Treliving has done an excellent job in improving his team. The problem, of course, comes when both Kadri and Huberdeau get into the latter years of their contracts. Both men are over 30 years old and are signed to long term, big money deals that end in their late 30s. Unless your name is Alexander Ovechkin, those deals rarely deliver value. Still, in the short term the Flames are much improved thanks to Treliving's willingness to take a risk.

As for Kadri, he's stoked to be a Flame (pun intended). Hear the newly minted Flames forward speak about his decision to sign in Calgary and his expectations for the upcoming season:

"I like the direction of the team and the moves we've made thus far ... I've always appreciated the Calgary Flames fanbase, so all those played a key contributor in me making my decision," Kadri said to Flames TV's Natasha Staniszewski.

"I think we're close," Kadri said of the Flames' championship hopes. "That's ultimately what you want, playing in the playoffs and playing in those big-moment games. Having won already, it gives you an insight into the pinnacle of where you're supposed to be."

One thing's for sure, Kadri's an absolute gamer so I don't imagine that he'll just sit on the sidelines collecting paychecks and daydreaming about his 2022 Stanley Cup victory. He's in Calgary to win another.