Kadri isn’t young but his point totals were in the 70s last season, and he has 12 points in his last 14 games now that he no longer has a bottom 6 on ice shooting percentage in the NHL. Kadri now immediately makes Buffalo a vastly superior team, and he provides cup pedigree, and more importantly that chippy “do it the right way play style” that Buffalo needs in spades. Kadri going to a more offensive team than the Flames looks like he could still be an elite 2C and help Buffalo break the streak, while Calgary starts the reclamation on Cozens who I still think could be quite good.
Age is the only reason the + is on Calgary’s side and not a massive + on Buffalos side. Buffalo getting the vastly superior player today and the next couple seasons is why this trade happens, but as much as HFBoards hates the idea the + shouldn’t be huge.